Growing a Medicinal Garden in Cedar Planter Boxes

Medicinal Garden Kit

Growing a medicinal garden in cedar planter boxes is an excellent way to cultivate a personal apothecary (preparing drugs or compounds for medicinal purposes), especially if you have limited space. Cedar is a great choice for planters because it is naturally rot-resistant and free of the chemicals often used to treat other types of wood. It also smells great and looks amazing!

But knowing what to get, what to do, and how to do it seems daunting, at least for me. So we here at Barking Beavers thought it would be nice to have a sort of starting guide for growing a medicinal garden, along with cedar planter boxes that will house and compliment your new medicinal garden well.

First off, why choose cedar planter boxes? Ok, yeah. You can use any type of planter box, garden area, terra cotta pots, or whatever. But cedar planter boxes have some distinct advantages, and I will spell them out for you here.

Natural and Untreated: Cedar is a durable, long-lasting wood that doesn't require chemical treatment to prevent rot. Cedar wood naturally resists rot and decay, even when rained on, watered, dirtied, or any other moisture that comes its way. This makes it a safe and healthy option for growing plants you intend to use for medicinal purposes.

Aesthetic Appeal: Cedar planter boxes look amazing! Cedar has a beautiful, natural look that can enhance any patio, deck, or balcony. And the rustic and warm tones of cedar planter boxes goes very well with any garden, balcony, apartment garden, or front and back yards.

The planter boxes we build here at Barking Beavers don't even require any paint or sealant of any kind. You can plant straight into them and not worry about VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) or chemicals getting into your food.

Durability: The natural oils in cedar protect against moisture and fungal decay, increasing the lifespan of your planter boxes. Cedar also wards off some pests and insects!

Your Planter Box and Soil

Cedar planter boxes are widely available in various sizes, from small herb boxes to large, elevated beds. You can also find DIY plans online if you're a do-it-yourselfer. When purchasing, look for boxes that are elevated with a slatted base for good drainage. And as mentioned above, we sell cedar planter boxes of all kinds too.

Lining the Box (Optional but Recommended): While cedar is rot-resistant, you can further extend the life of your planter by lining the inside with a material like landscape fabric or grow bags. This creates a barrier between the soil and the wood, helping to protect it.

Don't use soil from your yard, as it can be too heavy and may contain pests or diseases or other bad things you wouldn't want to eat. Instead, use a high-quality potting mix from one of the big box stores like Home Depot, Lowe's, other home improvement store or nursery.

Some mixes are specifically formulated for edible gardens, but a regular, quality potting mix works well. You can also mix in a natural vegetable and herb fertilizer to ensure your plants have the nutrients they need, as nutrients tend to leach out of containers more quickly than in the ground.

Selecting Your Medicinal Plants

OK, admittedly I needed help from some online sources and experts to continue with this next part. But this next part is super important! Here's what my research found:

When choosing plants, consider your climate, the amount of sunlight you have, and the size of your planter box. Many popular medicinal plants are also culinary herbs and thrive in containers. We have a four foot raised planter box that is a favorite among gardeners as it is long and wide enough, but also is up off the ground.

Here's some plants that are excellent for container gardening in temperate climates:

Chamomile: A must-have for a medicinal garden, chamomile is known for its soothing properties and is used in teas to aid relaxation, digestion, and sleep. And you can put it in your tea!

Echinacea: A beautiful flower known for its immune-boosting properties. The roots and leaves are used in teas and ointments. It grows easily in pots and planter boxes.

Lavender: Used for centuries to soothe nerves and aid digestion. Its fragrant flowers are great for aromatherapy, teas, and topical applications.

Mint: A vigorous plant that can become invasive in the ground, making a container the perfect place for it. It is excellent for digestion and relieving headaches.

Lemon Balm: A member of the mint family, lemon balm has a citrusy scent and is known for its ability to ease stress and sadness. It also acts as an insect repellent.

Rosemary: This evergreen herb is a great container plant that can grow into a large bush. It's used for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and adds a lovely aroma to your garden. I can already smell its scent mixed with the scent of western red cedar wood!

Thyme: Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, thyme is perfect for container gardening. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used for respiratory and digestive ailments.

Sage: Another Mediterranean herb that thrives in well-drained soil and sun. It's known for its diverse therapeutic properties.

Calendula: A popular herb for skin care, calendula is used in ointments for burns, wounds, and rashes. Its beautiful flowers make it a great ornamental addition.

Aloe Vera: This succulent is a great "first-aid" plant for soothing burns and rashes. It's frost-sensitive, so it's best grown in a pot that can be brought indoors during colder months.

The plants and herbs above are just the beginning. My knowledge of medicinal plants is limited, but you can get expert help for a medicinal garden here.


There's also a gardening technique called Companion Planting. Basically, you should consider planting certain herbs and plants together to benefit from their natural properties. For instance, Rosemary can repel pests like cabbage moths and carrot rust flies, making it a good companion for other plants. Cilantro can deter spider mites from tomatoes. And Nasturtiums can attract pests like cabbage loopers, keeping them away from your other crops.

Care and Maintenance

When considering watering, most herbs in containers need to stay fairly moist, especially during hot weather. Being in a planter you will have mor surface area to dry the soil, so you may need to water them once or twice a day in the summer. Mediterranean herbs like rosemary, thyme, and basil are more drought-tolerant. But planter boxes are easy to retrofit for watering lines and drainage. If you need a hole for a drip or wateing line, just drill where you want the line and the size hole you'll need. If you're not getting the drainage you need, simply add some holes in the bottom. just be sure to not add too many holes at once, or add too large of holes.

And as you consider the sunlight your plants and herbs need, track the sunlight in the area where you plan to place your planter boxes. Then simply move them to the area they'll do best in! Yet another positive aspect of using planter boxes for a garden.

Most medicinal herbs prefer full sun (at least six to eight hours per day). Leafy greens and some herbs like parsley, mint, and cilantro can tolerate morning sun or partial shade.

Also keep in mind that container plants need more frequent fertilizing than those in the ground. A natural fertilizer applied every three to six weeks will help ensure your plants are getting the nutrients they need to thrive.

Want more info on planting a medicinal garden? We found a fantastic source spcifically for someone starting out. Check out the medicinal garden kit here, prepared by Nicole Apelian, Ph.D. She's widely known as a natural herbilist and MS survivor, and for developing what you need for a small backyard pharmacy.