For centuries people have been growing and using all kinds of herbs. They have been used as medicine and to improve the flavor of foods as well as for their aromatic and ornamental qualities. While most herbs are very easy care plants that do not need much more than sunshine and good drainage, you will want to follow some basic guidelines when planning and planting your herb garden.

The first thing you will want to do is plan your herb garden. An easy way to do this is to make a numbered list on paper of the herb plants that you want to include. Then, beside or below the list make a quick sketch of the area that you will be planting. Now it is a simple matter of arranging the plants within the sketch. Draw a circle and place the number from your list inside to indicate which plant goes where.

Important considerations when choosing the herbs you want to plant is the size and growth habits of the various herbs you’ve chosen. For instance, mints are taller and tend to be intrusive making it wise to contain them in a separate garden area or plant them within a container dug into the garden. Thyme makes a terrific border plant since it is a lower growing plant with a tendency to spread. Generally, taller plants should be placed toward the back of the garden and shorter ones in front.

Herbs can be annuals, perennials or biennials. It may benefit you to separate the perennial plants from the annual plants by placing perennials to the outside of the herb bed. By doing this you reduce the chances of digging up and discarding your perennial herbs when it is time to prepare the bed for any annual herbs that you will want to plant each year. Parsley is an example of a biennial herb that we tend to treat as an annual. If you allow it to flower and go to seed, it will reestablish itself. Seed in parsley for two consecutive years when you start your herb garden, and you’ll have a continuous supply as though it were a perennial.

They layout and design of your herb bed will depend greatly on the size of your garden location, the plants you have chosen and simple personal preference. Herb gardens are often planted in the traditional wagon wheel, semi-circle or simple square or rectangle patterns. For a more formal looking herb bed, you can divide the garden into sections using bricks or stone. Your gardens location is a very important consideration, especially if you are planting herbs for use in cooking. You’ll want ot plant your herb bed as close to the kitchen door as possible.

Preparation for a basic herb garden is not complicated at all. Once you have the area prepared for planting, it may be necessary to add lime to the garden as many herbs prefer slightly alkaline soil. A garden plot that receives full sun is ideal, but most herbs will thrive in al little as 4-6 hours of sun each day. Annual herbs should be planted in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. Perennial herb plants can be added at any time during the growing season.

If space is a problem, herbs can be planted in containers and placed around your patio. Use a good planting mix and be sure that your pots drain well. Herbs prefer not to have wet feet. Container planting herbs considered “tender” perennials in your area is also a good idea. You will be able to move them indoors during the cooler months and keep them healthy and happy.

Many herbs can be easily started from seed, either indoors for an early start or sown directly into the garden in early spring. Be sure to follow the directions on the seed packet for care and growing. Some herbs like lavender and rosemary will prove to be slow starters when growing from seed. For these varieties, you may want to purchase plants. If you have friend of relatives with herb gardens, you can ask them for starters or divisions from their established plants.

All in all, herbs are not difficult to grow and after they have established themselves, they require very little care and maintenance. Be sure that they have a well drained bed with at least 4 -6 hours of sunshine and you’ll be able to enjoy the flavors and fragrances of your herb garden for years.

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