Basic Herb Garden Design and Layout Planning

Herbs are a hardy breed of plant. Unlike most other plants, herbs require very little care in order to thrive. These hardy plants can withstand poor soil, need virtually no fertilization and require only a minimal amount of watering. However, having a successful herb garden does require a little planning on the basic herb garden design and layout in order to ensure a bountiful growth.

The first consideration you must ponder is how many plants you wish to plant in a container or garden. Herb plants such as Lavender and Yarrow tend to spread and take over. Chive is another herb that without the proper spacing can become quite bushy and compacted.

Many herbs will thrive in a spacing and layout of about one foot apart. However, Chive does do well when placed in a bunch. The trick is to ensure that these plants are not competing for the same nutrients in the soil.

The next important issue to consider is adequate sunlight. If plants are spaced to close together, they won’t receive the sunlight they need inside and around their outside. An occasional pruning may be necessary as after planting, you may discover you have grown more plants than you originally expected.

Preparing the soil is another important issue for consideration before planting any herb plants. Although these plants can thrive in relatively poor soil, that doesn’t mean a little preparation is not necessary. Adding a compost mixture or some sandy loam and clay to the soil will help ensure these plants a hardy growth. As natives of the Mediterranean, these herbs are used to rocky, dry soil. However, it is important to ensure that the soil has proper drainage as herbs like moist, not wet soil.

Herbs such as Lavender and Sage require no watering routine at all. These hardy plants are sufficiently happy with the occasional rainfall. Peppermint however, requires a bit more in the way of watering. An automatic drip watering system is the perfect choice for keeping this herb happily quenched.

Weeding can be a painstaking nuisance, so in order to avoid this problem; you may want to consider laying down landscaping fabric in your herb garden design. This will assist in lowering the occurrence of those pesky problems. In addition, you never want to use a chemical herbicide on herb plants. Weeds and herbs have some of the same biological make up which means that the herbicides will not only kill your weed problem, but also kill your herbs. Besides, it isn’t a good idea to spray chemicals on something you plan to eat in the future.

Most herb plants are insect repellant, however, there are a few who attract these pesky problems. Dill is an herb that can be planted away from other plants such as tomatoes or other vegetables as they will attract insects, keeping them away from your other crops. However, if you are growing Dill for your own use, a small amount of pesticide may be used. Just ensure that the amount is the smallest you can get away with.

When choosing the plants you wish to plant, a little research goes a long way. All herbs have a different time frame for when they should be planted. Time frames such as every four weeks to after the last frost are common and knowing the perfect planting time will ensure a hardy and fruitful garden.

As with any labor of love, a little pre-planning on your herb garden design and layout will help ensure that your herb garden is a thriving and beautiful work of art.

         

More Herb Gardening and Care Tips Articles