The Art of Designing an Herb Garden

HERB What’s in a name we cherish? The plants we call “herbs” comes from the Latin word, herba, meaning “green crops.”

As gardeners, we have come to a different understanding of which plants are herbs based on our changing relationship with nature. Today, herb has an expanded definition that includes plants , generally aromatic or fragrant, whose parts, whether leaf, flower, seed or root, are useful to mankind for food, flavoring, medicine, household and cosmetics. Whew! By contrast, spices, with their many uses for flavoring and fragrance, primarily are harvested from the bark, root seed berry or pod of vines, shrubs, or trees grown mostly in tropical climates.

Planning Your Herb Garden

Transforming an empty or overgrown spot into an herb garden can be one of life’s most gratifying experiences. Time spent outdoors in your garden relaxes mind, body and spirit. However, facing a raw, undeveloped, what-did-I-get-myself-into site can be intimidating. Visions of a private herbal getaway do come true, but not before you make lots of choices and accept responsibility for a fair amount of planning, digging and planting.

1. The best way to get your herb garden off to a good start is to plan it out on paper. Measure the area, and scale it down to transfer it to graph paper (each square to equal one foot). Do start small, increase the size of your garden later.

2. Mark in the positions of your herb beds and borders with their dimensions. Locate the short, compact herbs in the front of your herb beds; the taller ones behind them. Be sure to determine their final size; you will avoid overcrowding come time to planting.

3. It’s best to make beds four feet wide if you can reach across it from both sides, three feet wide if you have access from one side only. Make it as long or short as your space permits.

4. Select your plants according to your needs (culinary, craft, cosmetic, medicinal, landscape, etc.), and dictates of the soil and site. Also consider whether they are evergreen, perennial, annual, flowering, non-flowering, as well as their different textures and colors.

5. Repeat herb varieties for symmetrical patterns, or plant to create a wild look. Remember, the more formal a garden, the more pruning and maintenance is required.

6. Assess your soil. Is it well drained (sandy, gravelly, chalky)? Does it hold water and feel sticky when wet, cracking badly when dry? Is it dark colored, spongy when wet and dusty when dry. Most herbs like a fertile, well-drained, sandy soil.

7. Assess your location. Which parts are sunny or shady? Does the area get wind, if it does, is it primarily from the north, south, east, or west? Is it likely to retain frost in the winter? Is it sheltered by walls, fences or shrubs? How much rain does it get? Select heartier herbs (rosemary, thymes, sages, mints, and parsley) for more vulnerable spots.

8. Decide on the number of plants your garden will require and purchase accordingly.


“He who sees things from the beginning will have the best view of them” -Aristotle

HERBS TO MATCH YOUR SOIL TYPE

Sandy Soil-
Borage, Chamomile, Coriander, Fennel, Lavender, Tarragon, Thyme, Marjoram and Winter Savory

Clay Soil-
Bee Balm, Comfrey, Mints, and Wormwood
Working compost into clay soil makes it more hospitable to herbs that prefer Loam and Moist soils.

Moist Loam Soil-
Bee Balm, French Sorrel, Lady’s Mantle, Lemon Balm, Mint, Parsley and Valerian

Loam Soil-
Basil, Bay, Caraway, Catnip, Chervil, Chives, Coriander, Dill, Fennel, Lady’s Mantle, Lovage, Rosemary, Rue, Sage and Thyme

COMPANION PLANTING

Even in the most ancient of times, gardeners have claimed that many herbs are of great benefit when planted next to certain vegetables and herbs. On the other hand some herbs are believed to hinder growth. Put into practice, the idea of companion planting may help in the garden by encouraging healthy growth, increasing flavor and fragrance, as well as repelling some pests and diseases. Listed below are, according to folklore, some helpful plantings, and some you may wish to avoid.

Plants that help each other

Anise-Coriander, Basil-Vegatables-Esp. Tomatoes, Chervil-Radishes, Borage-Strawberries, Chamomile-“Plants Physician”-Garden Health, Caraway-Peas, Chives-(Natural Pest Repellant)-Leek-Carrots, Chives-Apple Trees, Dill-Cabbage-Corn-Lettuce-Cucumber, Garlic-Chives- Pest Repellant for Roses, Horseradish-Potatoes-Fruit Trees, Hyssop-Grapes, Lavender-Thyme-Vegetables, Lovage-Potatoes-Root Vegetables, Mint-Rosemary-Sage, Nasturtium-Apples, Parsley-Tomatoes-Roses, Rosemary-Sage-Carrots, Sage-Cabbage, Salad Burnet-Thyme-Mint, Savory(Summer)-Onions, (Winter&Summer Savory)-Beans, Sorrel-Oregano, Southernwood-Cabbage, Thyme- Natural Pest Repellant, Yarrow- Increases fragrance of most herbs.

Plants that Supress each other

Basil-Rue, Chamomile-Peppermint, Caraway-Fennel, Coriander-Beans and Tomatoes, Dill-Carrots, Fennel-Beans and Tomatoes, Garlic-Chives-Leeks-Shallots-Inhibit Beans and Peas, Hyssop-Carrots-Radishes, Wormwood-Plant off in a corner


If you would be happy for a week, take a wife;
If you would be happy for a month, kill your pig;
But if you would be happy all your life, plant a garden.
---Chinese Proverb