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Designing herb gardens


Beautiful Herb Garden Designs

Fresh ways to make your herb garden both functional and super-stylish

Written by Mike Irvine October 25, 2016

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&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;<br /> &amp;lt;p class=”dek margin-24-tb padded-mobile”&amp;gt;<br /> Fresh ways to make your herb garden both functional and super-stylish<br /> &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;<br /> &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;

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A world of color

Take advantage of the fact that not all herbs are green and leafy. Local nurseries have varieties in a wide array of colors, textures, and heights, as well as those that flower and bring bees into the garden. Here is a prime example of an explosion of color and varying heights: tall pineapple sage with red trumpet flowers and chartreuse leaves; the mid-sized flowering basils—African blue and Mountain magic—with spires of purple flowers; and a low-growing blue-green German thyme spilling over a rocky border. A feast for your eyes and also your nose!

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Summer, contained

Of course, it wouldn’t be summer without a bushel of sweet basil growing in your garden. But the cluster of vibrant-flavored herbs shown here is just as perfect for the season. Some, like mint and cilantro, are familiar, while others—shiso, lemongrass, and Thai basil—are more exotic. But they all can be used to add bold Asian flavor to a variety of dishes. And thanks to their variety of heights, textures, and shades of green, they make for a winning combination in the garden, too.

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Think both in and outside the box

Don’t feel restricted to growing herbs in traditional in-ground or raised beds. Most herbs, including annual green basils, will grow happily in wooden crates, willow baskets, small pots, and other containers. All they need is good drainage, regular water, and at least 6 hours of sun. From thyme and sage to oregano and marjoram, there’s really no excuse not to spruce up your stoop, windowsill, or balcony with a favorite culinary herb.

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A busy gardener’s saving grace

Perennial herbs are a great solution to any difficult spaces or sections in a landscape—they fill in nicely, overlap and play well with their companions, and don’t need much attention from the home gardener. If they start to get unwieldy or wild, a few quick cuts down to new points of growth will rein them in and leave you with a pretty harvest of herbs to hang and dry. What’s more, mild temperatures in areas such as coastal California allow for continuous harvests of tri-color sage, golden oregano, French thyme, and rosemary through the winter months.

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Herb wall

There’s no need to limit your herb selection to traditional low-lying mounds of thyme and oregano. Experiment with taller, more dramatic selections that will stun you with quick and vigorous growth. Here, the limey leaves of pineapple sage intermingle with licorice-tasting anise hyssop in full bloom—a solid wall of aromatic herbs that delight the senses and attract the busiest of hummingbirds.

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Bee magnets

A mix of three types of flowering basils grows at the base of each trellis. ‘African Blue’, ‘Magic Mountain’, and ‘Wild Magic’, are all grown specifically for their flowers, which, unlike traditional types, aren’t a sign of being at the end of their season. (All varieties of basil available by mail order from Morningsun Herb Farm.) The basils bloom all season and die come frost. They’re still edible (though more astringent than traditional Italian types) and ridiculously loved by the bees.

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Herbal essences

(All herbs available by mail order from Morningsun Herb Farm.) Herbs make fantastic border plants. Seen here: white-flowering lavender ‘Hidcote’, orange-flowered Agastache ‘Sunset’, intensely purple-flowered A. ‘Blue Boa’, lighter purple-flowered A. ‘Blue Fortune’, the green and yellow variegated leaves of ‘Variegated Berggarten’ sage, the chartreuse leaves of pineapple sage, and the green leaves of Thymbra spicata, spilling from the bed onto the path.

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Spilling is ok here

The simplest way to soften a straight edge: Plant a spilling herb. Along the sides of each of our Test Garden’s raised beds, Homestead Design Collective planted herbs that do just that. Not only do herb blossoms look beautiful and attract pollinators and beneficial insects, but they’re also edible. Most herb blossoms, including the French thyme seen here, taste milder than their leafy companions and are great additions to salads, soups, and egg dishes.

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Follow your nose

Your herb garden should not only look beautiful, but should fulfill your other senses as well. Just imagine the rush of aromas that would result in brushing past this bed of flowering herbs—a mild licorice and minty scent from both the flowering purple spires of anise hyssop and the cheery apricot blossoms of the agastache, a sweet perfume from the white lavender, and a hint of Mediterranean spice from the low-lying purple blossoms of the culinary herb za’atar. A garden should be a source of inspiration, and who wouldn’t want to run back into the house with a bouquet of these fragrant herbs to use in the kitchen?

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A perfect pairing

Never be afraid to mix your herbs with your vegetables. Here two chile de arbol peppers, bearing fruit that are fiery in both their bright fire-engine red color and their smoky flavor, are surrounded by a border of herbs, including blossoming thyme, marjoram, and wild magic basil. The herbs are allowed to spill over the bed’s rocky border, while they’re pruned and harvested away from the peppers–giving them necessary breathing room and space to grow. Meanwhile, the herbs also bring pollinators and beneficial insects to the garden–visitors that are essential to the health and production of all vegetables!

Flexible Design Plan for a Simple Formal Herb Garden

By

Marie Iannotti

Marie Iannotti

Marie Iannotti is a life-long gardener and a veteran Master Gardener with nearly three decades of experience. She's also an author of three gardening books, a plant photographer, public speaker, and a former Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator. Marie's garden writing has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide and she has been interviewed for Martha Stewart Radio, National Public Radio, and numerous articles.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 05/11/21

The Spruce /  Marie Iannotti

Formal herb gardens—with their symmetry, knots and interweaving textures—can look intimidating. But to create a simple formal herb garden, all you really need to do is choose a geometric shape, like a circle or a square, divide it into sections of equal size and fill each section with similar or complementary plants. Designing a formal herb garden is easy enough. Just don't lose sight of the maintenance involved with keeping order in your herb garden. The more precise the lines, the more any wayward plants will stick out like a sore thumb.

A less labor-intensive approach is to give your herb garden the bones of a formal layout and then fill it with exuberant herb plants that can be allowed to mature, fill in and spread without constant supervision.

Choosing Plants for an Herb Garden

When selecting plants for a formal herb garden, consider the growth habits and mature sizes of the plants. Place low creepers, like thyme and chamomile, on opposite path edges to complement each other. Put more aggressive herbs, like mints and lemon balm, in pots either above or below the ground.

Most herbs used for culinary purposes won't be allowed to flower early in the season. So focus on texture and foliage color to bring a sense of fullness to your herb garden design.

Make sure all the plants can be accessed, both for harvesting and maintenance, without walking into the beds. The paths should be at least three feet wide for easy walking. Since this is a formal garden, the paths can be paved or mulched to provide the axis for the garden.

The garden design shown here contains 20 different herb plants. Most of these plants will flower at some point in the season, but there is plenty of variety with just the plant shapes and textures. The sprawlers are kept to a minimum, to retain a somewhat formal feel. You can, of course, improvise any way that suits you.

The color scheme is another unifying element that adds to the formality. It makes use of the complementary color combos of purple/yellow and blue/orange. If the orange of the calendula and nasturtiums is too bold for you, you can always substitute one of the paler yellow varieties or the pink variety of calendula.

The center of a formal herb garden is usually the focal point. Even though there is a formality, the focal point is a chance for you to show your gardening personality. It could be a large herb plant, such as a sweet bay tree or large potted rosemary. Many gardeners like to put a garden ornament in the center of their herb gardens, like a birdbath, either as a bath or as a planter. Another popular feature is placing a sundial in a small center bed and surrounding it with thyme plants. Whimsy is permitted in a formal herb garden.

Below is a list of plants used in this basic garden design (read on for more detail), but remember, the plants you choose to use (and number and variety) will depend on the specifics of your garden.

  1. Lavender bee balm
  2. Thyme
  3. Cilantro
  4. Lavender
  5. Lemon balm
  6. Borage
  7. Tarragon
  8. Nasturtium
  9. Chives
  10. Purple sage
  11. Dill
  12. Lemon thyme
  13. Greek oregano
  14. Bronze fennel
  15. Golden variegated sage
  16. Calendula
  17. Parsley
  18. Basil assortment
  19. Chamomile
  20. Bird bath

Herbaceous plants in landscape design

When it comes to landscape design, many people often think of beautiful flowers or lush green gardens. Herbaceous plants carry much more possibilities than just decorating a flower bed. Herbs not only add variety to the garden, but also provide an increase in the biodiversity of the garden, cleansing and filling the air with healing aromas.

There are many herbs that can be grown in the garden. Many plant herbal plants for medicinal reasons, some for aesthetic reasons, and others for herbs used in cooking or making drinks. nine0004

Article content

Features of outdoor herbaceous plants

Herbs can be defined as plants that are beneficial to humans. Herbs are used as medical devices. Some herbs are used as dyes or for industrial use. Herbs have been used for thousands of years in teas and balms to treat indigestion and heart disease, as a condiment in cooking.

Herbal plants are not only useful but also attractive. Gardeners use them as borders for their landscaping, along paths, mixed with flowers and shrubs. Herbs grow almost everywhere. nine0004

What is a herb garden?

This is a garden, or part of it, used exclusively for the cultivation of herbs. The best description of what is called a herb garden is that it is a beautiful and relaxing place where you can find plants that bring benefits to the home. A herb garden can be any size or shape and can contain many different types of herbs. An herb garden can take up an entire yard, or it can simply be planted in a small container with a window. Flower beds with herbal plants can be stored on a sunny windowsill or in an open area. nine0004

The herb garden design can also be incorporated into a vegetable garden mixed with ornamental plants or your own flowers.

Types of herb gardens

There are many different types of herb gardens and many ways to use them, each with its own character and charisma.

Culinary garden

Consists of herbaceous plants used in cooking. Most of them are grown in containers, although they can also be grown in the garden. It may contain: sage, parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano and others. These herbs are traditionally grown in containers, usually with easy access to the kitchen. nine0004

Aromatic Herb Garden

Composed of herbal plants that are well known for their fragrance and are used in bouquets, aromatherapy or scented candles. It may contain herbs such as: Lavender, Basil, Geranium, Mint, Thyme, etc.

Herbal tea garden

Typically, herbs such as Chamomile, Anise, Hyssop and various varieties are planted in flower beds or beds in such a garden Mints, from which you can brew delicious and healthy teas. nine0004

Medicinal herbal garden

Includes herbs used for home treatment. These are herbaceous plants such as Ginseng and Chamomile, Lavender and Echinacea, Yarrow, Thyme and others.

Ornamental herb gardens

Valued for their beautiful flowers and unusual texture. Such a garden may contain southern latitude herbs such as Sage, fragrant Lavender, Oregano and Myrtle.

The most popular type of herb garden design consists of varieties of herbaceous plants, some for cooking, some for fragrance, some for beauty, and some for medicinal. With so many herbs, the question is not what is an herb garden, but rather what is growing in your herb garden? nine0004

Herb garden planning

Herb garden landscaping has been an integral part of gardening for thousands of years. Herbs have many different uses, not to mention beauty and unique flavors. Integrating herb garden landscaping into your property is extremely easy and requires only a little planning.

Before planning your garden, it's a good idea to become familiar with the different types of herbs and their characteristics. When planning your herb garden, decide which herbs will thrive, find a place to grow them, and decide if they will be planted in beds or containers. nine0004

When creating an herb garden, you may decide to include one type of herb in your garden, or you may choose to mix different herbs in your area.

Whether you decide to plant herbaceous plants for cooking or choosing garden fragrance varieties, you will need to pay close attention to the size and location of your planting area, as well as the types of herbs you choose and their individual planting requirements.

The herb garden usually requires a lot of direct sunlight, although some, such as mint, do best in the shade. Depending on the amount of space available, there are several different ways to include a herb garden in your outdoor space. For a more informal look, include herbs in flower beds between bushes with bright flowers.
Container gardens are ideal for small areas. Rose beds are also the perfect place to incorporate herbal plants. nine0004

How to choose herbs for your garden


If you're planning your first herb garden, it's best to start by choosing 10 to 15 hardy herbs like Thyme and Onion. Decide if you prefer to grow herbs for cooking, medicinal use, or just for fun.

Group grass varieties according to the amount of water they use and the amount of sunlight they require. Plant each variety according to its individual soil depth requirements, adding the appropriate nutrients. nine0004

For best visual effect, place taller grasses at the back of the planting area and gradually reduce the height. Use the shape and texture of the plants to determine where to plant.

Finally, provide proper drainage to keep your herbs healthy by using crushed container gravel or raised planting areas.

Interesting articles

Herb garden from the famous Swiss manufacturer of herb lollipops

This material is also available to Ukrainian

Healing herbs not only delight the eye with an abundance of bright colors, but also have a beneficial effect on the human body. Not surprisingly, growing medicinal herbs in your own herbal garden has recently become fashionable. “Medicinal herbs also grow well on the balcony, if you follow a few simple rules,” says herbal expert Ursula Richterich, who runs the Ricola herb garden in Nenzlingen, Switzerland. For many years, Ms. Richterich has been growing, collecting and processing sensitive vegetation. For those of you who haven't reached all the heights of herb growing yet, here are some tried and true tips on how to properly set up and maintain a herb garden. nine0004

Forms and layout

First, you need to think carefully about the location of the herb garden and how it will look. Herbs can be planted in a spiral, they are good neighbors of vegetables in mixed plantings, and they can be combined with other plants according to the ancient Chinese teachings of Feng Shui. The shape of the herb garden can be unique, it all depends on your preferences and the available plants. Intuitive herb gardeners draw inspiration from the rich colors of herbs and combine them to their taste. Thanks to the right combination and skillful arrangement of plants in containers and pots, even on the balcony you can create quite nice herbal compositions. The main thing is that the garden of medicinal herbs is, if possible, as far as possible from the road, and the plants would not absorb harmful substances from automobile exhaust gases. “For decades, we have been guided by this principle when growing herbs,” says Mr. Richterich. "All herbs grow in the middle of the untouched mountain landscape of the Swiss Alps, far from transport and industry. " nine0004

Plant selection

Once you have decided on the location and shape of your herb garden, you need to select plants for it. Here you need to be careful: their good development depends on the intensity of sunlight. So, if your garden or balcony is located on the sunny side, then it is recommended to grow herbs native to the Mediterranean, accustomed to the bright sun. It can be lemon balm, sage, thyme and rosemary. Penumbra is preferred rather by elderberry, erect cinquefoil, peppermint, lungwort, wild strawberry, wild garlic, geranium, valerian and nettle. nine0004

Preparing the soil

Before planting the plants, you will need to prepare the soil. Herbs love loose soil. It would be ideal to improve the structure of the soil and increase its nutrient content with the help of green manures, the so-called green manures. Grow lupins or red clover in your herb garden for one season. These plants loosen the deep layers of the soil, enrich the soil with nitrogen and, in addition, have a rather decorative appearance. Alternatively, to improve the properties of heavy soil, you can add compost or sand to it. It would be ideal to use compost as a fertilizer, it is he who returns to the soil those nutrients that were needed for the active growth of plants. nine0004

Seeds or young plants

After you have prepared the soil, grass seeds can be sown. Sufficient, but not excessive watering of the soil is important. “Most herbs do not tolerate waterlogging, they can rot the roots, which leads to the death of the plant,” says a Ricola expert. And if you want your garden to be fragrant with healing herbs as quickly as possible, you can purchase young plants from garden centers or nurseries and plant them. nine0004

Pests

Young plants are most susceptible to pests, especially snails and aphids that attack tender young shoots. “Even if you are strongly tempted to use chemicals, it is in your best interest not to do so,” advises Ms. Richterich. It is better to resort to purely biological methods of pest control of grasses. Snails should be harvested periodically, create barriers around the perimeter of the herb garden in the form of a plastic chute, or poured fine gravel, creating a physical barrier for the snails. In case of damage by aphids, spraying the plants with a decoction of nettle helps. If you plant lavender in the neighborhood, then you can forget about aphids altogether. For a general strengthening of the immune system of medicinal herbs, it is recommended to spray them with a decoction of horsetail every two weeks. And it’s worth the effort, because with appropriate care and protection from the cold, grass is able to bring high yields for 4 years. nine0004

Lush blooms from spring to autumn

If properly cared for, the herb garden will be filled with bright colors from May to October. “Medicinal herbs can bloom twice a year if they are pruned in time,” explains Ms. Richterich.

Ricola Herb Growing

The herbs used to make Ricola products are tested and grown to the strict standards of Bio Suisse, Switzerland's premier organic farming organization. This means that no synthetic herbicides, insecticides, fungicides or artificial fertilizers are used. A decisive role in the cultivation of Ricola herbs is played by their growing areas, which are selected with particular care. In Valais, Emmental, Puszlav, along the southern foothills of the Jura, in the central regions of Switzerland and in the southernmost canton of Tesin, about 200 independent agricultural enterprises grow medicinal herbs for the needs of the traditional Ricola enterprise. Moreover, regional partnerships not only grow herbs, but also deal with their drying, packaging and delivery. nine0004


Ricola herbal exemplary

Herb collection

Ricola herbs are harvested at the moment when the concentration of biologically active substances and aromas in them is highest. The quality of herbs is controlled by Ricola experts in the fields. Thanks to many strict checks - from harvesting, drying, to processing - the high quality and purity of herbs is guaranteed.

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