Cottage gardens encompass all types of plants, and certainly include herbs. Herbs lend themselves to being tucked into odd corners, many do well in containers and of all the plants we grow in our gardens today, herbs are among the oldest and have the most incredible stories to tell.
Growing herbs is simple to do and your herbs -- whether in pots or a patch or their own little garden -- will provide you with great pleasure throughout the year. Remember to put some by this summer to enjoy next winter; the taste of a home grown herb brings a bit of summer's bounty to any dish!
When you begin to think about your herb garden, consider why you want to grow herbs. This will help you develop a theme or style for your herb garden. For example, herbs can be classified in terms of their uses:
Besides the traditional knot garden (here is one knot, and here is another, close up of how the knot is formed) there are many ways to design an herb garden!
Herbs can be grown in any style ranging from formal or traditional to a more relaxed cottage look or even in the potager so that harvesting is simplified and will not spoil the decorative effect of the herbs.
You will also need to think about where to put your herb garden. Most herbs do best in a sunny spot, a spot with sun all day or for at least six hours which include noon. A level spot is easier to work with, especially if you plan on a formal or symmetrical design. A slope can be made to work well too, and may be desirable if you have heavy soil or badly drained soil. (Most herbs will drown in soggy soil.) You might consider using raised beds if your soil is problematic or if you think it would enhance your design.
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Barbara M. Martin's Cottage Garden topic, please visit the Discussions page.