The Herb Garden
Posted in Gallery, garden design, herbs
Garden Tips for Herb Gardens
If you are laying out a geometric form use a string and peg, the pegs from which you stretch string to mark even straight lines or the circumference of your circles. A little lime dust or builders chalk can outline it clearer, if necessary, sprinkled along the lines as you lay them out with the string.
Like all garden preparation be sure to improve the soil in your herb garden. Just because herbs are considered low demand plants does not mean you should shortchange their soil preparation. Add organic matter and soil additives according to your soils needs (determined with a soil analysis).
All herbs with running roots (mint is notorious for this) should have their roots contained, or they might take over the garden. Some suggest using old chimney pipes, or a 10 inch diameter drain pipe might be useful also. Set it upright and make sure enough is buried to keep the roots from spreading, with a rim above ground.
Keep these points in mind when creating your herb garden:
- herbs usually like full sun (4 to 6 hours of sun)
- most prefer well drained soil
- most need even moisture, though some are drought-tolerant
Herbs such as dill, parsley, and chives are easy to grow from seed. Other herbs are tender and take longer to come to harvest, like Basil and Marjoram, so they should be started early indoors. Most herb plants are available as plants in small pots. Those are the easiest way to begin your garden. Many perennial herbs are good to divide for more plants- such as thymes, hyssop, oregano, and sage. Plants such as Lavender are easy to multiply from cuttings.
When you are ready to choose your herbs and perhaps grow them according to use…
Click on to the Herb Garden Plant List.
