A herb garden design is a must if you are going to create a successful home herb garden. Here is why. Decisions as to where to put it, its size, the plants you intend to grow depend on information other than merely pencilling them in on your plan. They are the secret to your success.
The first consideration is to ask who is going to dig and prepare this garden and who will maintain it. If you have a gardener, no problem. However if it is yourself, how busy are you and how much time do you have for this project? The setting up of the garden will involve digging, possible moving rocks or digging out roots. Are you up for that job?
Later it will involve the planting and caring for your garden. This is not a lot of work but be careful just how big your garden is. If time will be an issue, start small but plan for expansion. You will learn over time just how to manage your garden. Perhaps your herb garden design should include an automatic watering system.
If you decide that you will create a container garden, this could require more careful maintenance as the tubs will dry out quicker than the ground. They will require more regular watering than a garden. Who will water them if your job takes you away for days on end? Again, an automatic watering system on a timer might be the answer.
Choosing your site must take into account sunshine and shade. Herbs like lots of sunshine and will not appreciate a large wall or trees cutting out their daily quota of several hours of sunlight.
According to how large your yard is, the soil can differ in different parts. Have a look at how plants – or weeds – grow on your proposed site and whether a different site might not be better for the plants.
Are you going to include any features such as a path, some sort of edging or perhaps a birdbath?
Just be careful that you know where any lines for water, electricity or gas are buried so that you do not interfere with them.
What herbs do you want to grow? You need to find out how much space each one will need.
Many herbs grow only to about 12 inches (30cm) tall. However some will grow to 3 feet (90 cms). If you let them herbs like bay become very tall. Rosemary can become a large bush and can be a useful plant elsewhere in the garden. So you need to think about balance, and making sure that the smaller plants get enough sunshine.
Lastly, if you are new in the area, find out if the soil in your area is healthy or if you need to consider adding anything to make it healthy so that your plants will thrive. A good local nursery can probably help you out here.
This information will be invaluable for your success. It means that your herb garden design will be the first step towards a beautiful and useful home herb garden.
Good herbs gardening!
