How to make a herb planter from an old grate

This is an example of reusing something that has passed its usefulness. All too often we just assume if something is old and not needed any more it has to be consigned to the dump. A little imagination can see old rubbish given a new purpose and a new home. In this case form the fireplace to the garden. My old fire grate had been sitting outside the back door waiting for me to get around to taking it to the tip. One morning I decided to see if I could recycle it as a garden container.

Here’s what I did.

rusty old fire grate

I bought some hanging basket liner at my local garden centre and cut a piece to fit, first tucking the corners of the felt into the corners of the grating

image of grate with felt liner

I cut the felt liner to fit the grate, leaving some leeway for when the compost was added.

image of planted grate

Finally I filled the grate with general purpose compost and planted some sage and some thyme.

A few months later – both herbs have flourished fantastically and I have added some nasturtiums – the only one of a duff batch of seeds that actually germinated. Let’s hope it eventually flowers, though I fear the worst. I had sown some also at the back and on the left (as well as in seed trays) but the batch was completely dud except for this one little survivor. (I won’t be buying Fothergills seeds again – as not only were their seeds dud but so was their customer service).

Related links

>> Making unusual garden furniture Beds into bowers – how Hilary turned a couple of unwanted beds into sumptuous garden furniture

>> Growing from seeds

>> Wyevale Garden Centres