Gardening Tip of the Month

Creating an Herb Garden

Growing herbs is becoming extremely appealing to gardeners and cooking enthusiasts. Compared to commercially packaged and sold herbs, those grown in your own beds and containers are much more fragrant and flavorful, both fresh and dried than those bought at the local grocery store.

There are hundreds of different herb varieties. You can create themed herb gardens based on what is used most in the kitchen, the colors of the herbs, or use the same kind of herbs such as sage garden or a mint garden. No matter what kind of herbs you are going to plant, most herbs have the same requirements.

First, it is important to note that herbs do not like soil with high fertility. The more fertile the soil is, the less pungent and fragrant the herb. As a result,when creating a new bed, do not mix compost in the soil due to its high fertility.

Second, herbs are drought tolerant. Like any plant, herbs do not like to be stressed but it is important to let the soil dry out before watering, especially if the herb is in a container. Because herbs can take the high temperatures and hot sun of summer, they make great low-maintenance plants for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.

Third, herbs are not usually susceptible to disease or insect attack. As a result of their fragrance, typically insects avoid the plants. Herbs can also help to protect other plants in the landscape too. Do some research to find out if the herbs you purchased can deter critters such as moles or deer.

Like any other landscape project, it is important to plan ahead. Determine the size of the area that you would like to plant herbs. Then it is possible to figure out how many herbs and what kind can be purchased.

When picking out the herbs, consider color, texture, and light requirement. If you are incorporating herbs into an existing landscape make sure that the herbs will complement the plants that are already present. Also, as mentioned above, the majority of herbs take full sun and well-drained soil, but there are some herbs that are exceptions. For example, mint can tolerate more shade than most herbs.

Finally, take the herb’s hardiness into consideration. If the herb is an annual and will not survive the winter, it may be better to use it in a container. For this reason, it is important to purchase herbs at a garden center where the herbs have been grown locally. Delhi Flower and Garden Center grow their own herbs and they are acclimated to the climate of the Cincinnati area and will thrive in the heat of summer as well as the cold of winter if they are hardy.

Creating a Container Herb Garden

Creating a container herb garden has many advantages. Not only do you get the reward of the fragrance and tasty kitchen creations, but you can also create beautiful mixed containers for a porch or deck. When creating your herb mixed container, place the taller herbs towards the back or the middle and place the trailing herbs towards the edges of the pot so that they can cascade out of the pot as they grow.

Be sure to choose a container that has drainage holes in the bottom. Herbs do not like to be constantly wet and prefer the soil to dry out before another watering. Keep in mind that plants in containers will need to be watered more often than those in the landscape.

If you do purchase herbs that will not make it through the winter, take your pot inside when the weather cools. Place it in the sunniest location available. Once inside, the herbs will not need to be watered as much as when they were outside since the temperature is regulated. When the weather is consistently warm in the spring, place them back outside.

For more information on herb garden projects, stop by Delhi Flower and Garden Center. We make adding to an existing project or creating your own easy. Speak to one of our many nursery experts for help or ideas. We can help you get the job done!

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