Herb Garden Design:
Things To Consider When Planning for Your Garden
The subject of herb garden design is one that many people ponder over when starting their herb garden. Sometimes people give up on the project altogether because they feel they will not be able to design one well enough. Herb garden design is quite easy, though, and just needs a little thought and judgment.
First step is to figure out how much space you have. If there are parts of your garden you are unwilling to let go of, rule these places off your possible herb garden site. Keep in mind however that many herbs like a lot of sunlight, and so a sunny spot in your garden will be the best location for your future herbs. If you don't have much of a garden to begin with, and your herb garden will be the beginning of your gardening career, choose the sunniest place in your garden.
Plot out as large an area as you can for your herbs, large and traditional herb gardens are anywhere from 5 by 20 feet to 10 by 20. Once you have this area, you can think about what design you'd like. Do you want simple rows of herbs? Do you prefer a circular design? A knot design? Or would you rather have herbs in a snaking pattern? Think of what other things you may want to put to decorate your garden such as rocks and pathways. Once you've thought this through, you can do research and some thinking as to what kind of herbs you'd like to grow in your garden.
Your herb garden design will probably change after you've done your herb research, as herbs can come in different heights, colors, and leaf shapes. Try to envision your garden, and think about what would look prettiest to you given the herbs you want to grow. There are no hard and fast rules to herb garden design. While there may be traditional designs, herb garden designs really depend on the gardener. For practicality's sake, however, situate your taller herbs together so that their shadows don't steal sunlight from the smaller growing plants.
Once you have your design, draw it out on some paper (don't worry, it doesn't have to be a masterpiece!) This is for your reference, so you make no mistakes when planting. Now that you've done that, you're ready to plant and garden!
If you don't have the luxury of a large plot of earth, you don't have to say goodbye to your herb garden dreams. Other herb garden design ideas allow for small or mini herb gardens. These use smaller bits of land. You also have the option of having an indoor herb garden, an herb garden design in pots (these also help decorate the home), a window herb garden (great for homes with large windows as the plants frame the window nicely), and a container herb garden which can be found outside the house or in the kitchen as well. These other herb garden designs will be discussed in detail in other sections of the site. Just remember, though that no matter what design you choose, herb garden design is less important than being happy with the herbs and the act of gardening itself!
