Herb garden design: Starting an outdoor herb garden

The right location, proper preparation and choosing the right herbs is very important when designing your new outdoor herb garden.

Planning an outdoor herb garden is the same as planning any other type garden. The plants you choose will determine the where and when of planting. You can have herbs in a garden by themselves or mixed with vegetables. You can also use herbs to landscape your yard.

Herb garden design: Starting an outdoor herb garden

Which herbs are right for you? The zone you live in will determine which herbs will do well for you. Your local nursery will usually have plants for your specific zone. Most gardening magazines will have a zone map where temperature determines each zone. You can also call your local nursery to find out which zone you live in.

Do you have lots of sun or shade? When you visit the nursery pay attention where each herb is sitting. If it is located in full sun? When you get this herb home you will want to put it in a similar area with full sun. If the nursery has it sitting in the shade then the shade will be the best location for it in your yard. Most herbs need full sun or dappled shade for at least four to six hours of the day. Many herbs come from the Mediterranean area and like it hot and on the dry side. Not all yards are suitable for growing herbs. If your yard is one of these, consider growing herbs in containers on your patio.

What kind of soil do you have? The perfect soil for growing herbs is equal amounts of sand, loam and clay. This allows good drainage which is very important for successful herb growing. If your soil needs amending you can add compost from your garden center or compost you have made yourself. Compost or any organic matter will greatly enrich the soil. You want your soil to crumble when you squeeze and release a portion of it in your hand. If your landscape is just too wet and does not have adequate drainage then consider raised beds to avoid rotting roots. Soil pH test kits are found at your local nursery or garden center. Herbs tend to like neutral to more alkaline soils. A test kit will determine if your soil is acid or alkaline. You may have to amend your soil to get the correct pH for herbs. Proper preparation is key to a successful herb garden.

What style of herb garden do you want? That will depend on how much work you want to put into it. There are herb knot gardens which require more work than the usual informal herb garden. Do you want a fence around your garden? If so, what kind? What kind of material do you want the pathways between the beds? Do you want annuals or perennials or both? Annuals require more maintenance than perennials, therefore plant them where they can easily be reached.

More tips for your herb garden

1. Learn about your herbs before planting.

2. Don’t let the taller herbs like dill, angelica or lovage be in front of small herbs like thyme or santolina.

3. Consider colors and textures when planting.

4. If you want to attract butterflies or birds find out which herbs are suitable.

5. For culinary purposes be sure to find out which herbs are safe to eat.

6. Mass plantings look very pleasing.

7. Mix herbs with colorful vegetables for a kitchen potager.

8. Keep invasive mint in an area where it won’t overpower other herbs.

9. Don’t plant dill and fennel together as they will cross pollinate.

10. Use natural pest control for your outdoor herb garden. For instance learn which good bugs will eat and feed on the bad bugs.