How To Plant An Herb Garden
Posted on: 19 December 2014
Most gardeners and cooks love fresh herbs. Herbs are not only useful plants for cooking, they also provide an attractive touch to your landscaping design. While many varieties of herbs grow in abundance in wild locations, quite a few can also be grown domestically. There is a wide range of different types of herbs that are used for both culinary reasons and for medicinal uses. With a bit of persistence, anyone can learn how to grow their own outdoor herbs.
What You Will Need
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Tiller or Garden Shovel
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Plants or Herbs Seeds
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Garden Mulch
Step 1. Placement is an important part of having a successful garden. The spot you choose should provide both protection from windy conditions and lots of direct sunlight. Herbs require a normal amount of moisture within the soil so winds can't dry out the herbs. Herbs can do quite well as borders along a walkway. For your convenience, you can place an herb garden close to your kitchen for easy access.
Step 2. Select your herb seeds or plants. There are many types of herbs to select from, and it's important to choose herbs that will have the same water, sunlight and soil requirements. Rosemary, chamomile, catmint and thyme, for example, share similar requirements, as do elderberry, lemon grass and loveage. Keep in mind that fennel, mint and dill can be aggressive, so you should take care in planting these alongside other herbs.
Step 3. Next, prepare the site where you intend to plant your herbs. The majority of herbs do well in well-drained, average soil. Add an equal amount of sand and compost to make hard clay usable. Use a rototiller or garden shovel to loosen up the soil. Herbs do best in fine soil, therefore make sure to break up larger clumps prior to planting.
Step 4. Begin planting the herbs you've chosen in your garden. Place smaller ground covers in the front and larger ones toward the back. Make sure that there is enough room between your plants to allow for weeding and harvesting. To ensure there is enough moisture in the soil, add a fine mulch layer around the plants' roots. Give the plants a thorough watering after planting, as well as any time the soil seems dry.
Step 5. Remove cuttings from your herbs when they are fresh and young for culinary uses. For herbs not being harvested, it will be necessary to prune them to maintain their shape in your garden. Remember to harvest flowering herbs before their blossoms dry out.
For more tips on planning your yard and garden, contact a local landscaping company, like Marlowe's We Care Company.
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