Taking Care of Your Herb Garden
Most herb plants are pretty tough. They're easy to grow, and once they've grown they are also easy to care for. Herb garden care consists of making sure your herbs get enough sunlight, enough water that drains well, and fertilizer whenever any of your plants need it. Weeding and slight insect treatments (also when needed) is really all else you'll need to do.
Water your herbs regularly. Be mindful of your herbs, checking the soil moisture to know whether or not your herb plant needs more water. Just be sure that you know which herbs need more water or less water. Watch your plant's leaves for signs if dehydration, they will start wilting. Remember again to make sure the water drains out well.
When it comes to weeding, checking once a week is enough to prevent any of them from taking root. Weed them out when they're small and haven't gotten strong yet or have had a chance to affect your herbs. Weeds always take up all the vitamins your herbs need to grow well, and so you definitely don't want them stealing what rightfully belongs to your herbs.
Only fertilize your herb garden when you're in the growing process. Herbs generally don't need too much fertilizer, unless you see that they are struggling to survive. If you've followed the rules pf companion planting for herbs, you'll find that after the initial fertilization process, your herbs will complement each other and you'll have little to worry about except sunlight and water. Pruning your herbs is also an important part of herb garden care, but you'll find that these plants are very easy to prune. If you want to prolong the life of your herb plants and keep harvesting the herb for its leaves, nip the flower buds away. Some herbs are used for their seeds or flowers though, and these can be harvested once those appear.
During the winter, many herbs die, but some of them winter quite well. They'll grow right back in the spring after the last of the frost melts away. For herbs that develop shallower roots, though, you can try covering the ground with mulch to try and keep the roots warm enough to survive the winter snow. Make sure you don't pack the protective covering down to hard, though because this can cause unneeded moisture which can promote mold and rot in the roots below. If it doesn't snow in your area, your herbs will have a really good fighting chance with this process. Just don't be too disappointed if they don't. You may have to replant again in the spring, but that's all just part of herb garden care.
The final part of herb garden care deals with dividing herbs. While all gardeners are happy to see their herb plants growing healthy and strong, too healthy and to strong does come to all herbs. While it may sound crazy, in order to keep your herbs in check, remove the entire plant from its spot in the garden and split it down the middle. Plant one of the halves back in the original spot, and replant the other half in a another spot, or if you have no space for it, replant it in a pot and give it away as a present. Do this for all your herb plants except the ones that you really want to have grow tall, bushy, and wall like, lovage is a good example.
Herb garden care means some attention towards your garden from time to time. Excessive attention is never needed, and you'll find that of all the types, herb gardening is very easy, very enjoyable, and very fruitful.
