Experimenting with Tiered Herb Gardens

My 1st attempt at  Tiered Herb Gardens

Below are some pictures of what you will need:
1. Garden soil. I prefer Miracle Gro brand; make sure you get the soil that is meant for vegetables!

2. Variously sized pots. What I have here are pots I found in my garage, which I supplemented with some Menard's pots. Largest pot on bottom, smallest at top. :)

3. I then placed small pots upside down within the larger pots. You'll have to experiment with which ones fit into which containers.  I wish I would have pre-drilled holes for more drainage and actually attached all the pots by bolt, nut, and washer.  Oh well, this was my experimental batch. So, don't do what I did; pre-drill your drainage holes!

4. Fill your pots approximately 3/4 full with your soil. This ensures that you won't, hopefully, have "floaters". This photo shows my pot that has Chives on the first layer. Make sure you use one type of plant per layer, otherwise you may have a mess to sort out when it comes to harvest time! I chose only 2 tiers due to non attachment of pots.

*NOTE* Please check to make sure you plant compatible herbs together.

http://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html

This was a very useful site that helped me plant my herb garden successfully.

                                       Top photo Thyme & Mint.  Bottom photo Sage & Basil.

Please see another example here at:

 Found on bluenoselife.wordpress.com

This is the site that actually inspires me to give it a go.

Next year I will go 3 tiers for sure!  I think a bigger more shallow base is what I needed. Due to lack of funding my garden budget was cut in half.  So I spent $23.00 in pots, $12.00 for soil, and $40.00 for all the herbs for the whole year.  Remember to ask friends and family if they have any old pots they want to get rid of, and check the used stores for other gardening items. One of my favorite thrift type shops for pots is Arc, a non-profit organization. http://www.arcsvaluevillage.org/

Realize, I don't have all the instructions for everything here. Please check the two links I have within the blog for more complete, detailed instructions! Happy gardening!

The Dainty Muse, aka Shelley

The Plumbing Corner.....

OK lets talk drain cleaning suggestions. This is called a Zip It. Use this once every 2 months for a clog free kitchen, bathroom, tub and laundry drain.

Information on this product is available at http://zipitclean.com/ but is also  available at most home improvement stores for $4 and under.

Do not use DRAIN CLEANER EVER!!!  If you or a Licensed Plumber ever have to be under the pipe, and it has a caustic chemical in it, it can cause permanent blindness or a chemical burn if it were to leak out on you. Please wear goggles whenever doing home improvement projects, for obvious reasons.  Some hot water, vinegar, and baking soda make a great green drain cleaner.  Here is a link to one such recipe: Homemade Drain Cleaner
If that fails get a drain snake that is at least 50-100 feet in length.  And when that fails, call a Licensed Plumber!!  Be prepared: the average service call starts at $175, and goes up from there.

Please be advised that if your main is backing up, and you see toilet paper floating near it,  you have a serious problem and need a plumber ASAP!  If it is late in the evening, or a weekend,  there are huge fees involved($500-$700 an hour). If you can wait until morning, or rent a hotel room (which is usually less expensive than an emergency fee!), do so.

Now for the legal part:
All information contained in this blog is tips only. Always speak to a professional first if you have any questions/concerns. Everything shared is my opinion, and should be taken as such.