A balcony quickly becomes a green oasis of well-being if you not only let your plants grow in classic pots, but also give them new places. A hanging herb garden that you can create from old jars is particularly beautiful and practical. It saves space, provides fresh greenery right in front of your nose and is also sustainable because you can reuse old glasses.

This is what you need for your project

• Empty preserving or screw-top jars (different sizes look particularly lively)
• Sturdy cord, macrame yarn or cord
• Potting soil 🛒
• Herbs of your choice (e.g. basil, thyme, parsley, rosemary, mint)
• Scissors
• Optional: pebbles or expanded clay for drainage
• Ceiling hook or heavy duty hook
• Cordless drill and dowels

This is how it works step by step

Before you start, you should clean the jars thoroughly and remove any labels. Small adhesive residues can be easily removed with hot water and a little oil. To prevent the herbs from standing in water later, it is recommended to cover the bottom with a thin layer of gravel or expanded clay. This prevents waterlogging and ensures that the roots remain healthy.

Step 1: Make a suspension

Cut four pieces of string or macrame yarn of equal length. Tie them together at the bottom to create a solid base. Now put the glass inside and run the strings up the sides. Using simple knots or a macrame technique, fix the cords evenly until a stable suspension is created at the top. At the end you can knot all the threads together and form a loop that will later hang on the hook.

Step 2: Attach sturdy hooks

To ensure that your herb garden hangs securely, you need sturdy hooks on the ceiling or on a beam. First mark the desired locations and drill a hole with a cordless drill. Insert the appropriate dowel and screw the hook in tightly. Heavy-duty hooks are recommended for particularly heavy glasses. Make sure that the distances are even so that the glasses hang nicely next to each other later.

Step 3: Plant herbs

Fill the jars with potting soil and place the herbs in them. Press the soil lightly and carefully add some water. Herbs that are regularly harvested fresh, such as basil, chives or parsley, are particularly suitable. But Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary or thyme also feel at home in the jars.

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Step 4: Find the right place

Hang your herb jars on the prepared hooks or on a wooden pole that is stretched across the balcony. Make sure that the herbs get enough light – a sunny to partially shaded location is ideal. It is also important that the glasses hang securely and do not swing in the wind.

Care and creative ideas

Because the jars only hold a small amount of soil, they dry out more quickly than large pots. That’s why you should water regularly, but in small amounts. A small dash of liquid fertilizer in the water also supports growth. It looks particularly pretty if you paint the glasses with waterproof paint, attach small labels or choose the cords in different colors. This means your hanging herb garden will not only be practical, but also a real decorative highlight.

A hanging herb garden made from old jars combines sustainability, creativity and functionality – and makes your balcony a special place where you can enjoy fresh herbs right on your doorstep.