Learning how to create a herb garden in your home garden can be a fun and relaxing hobby. Home herb gardening is an easy way to have a supply of fresh herbs ready to use. Most herbs like a warm climate, full of sunlight, and lots of well drained soil. The most important part of starting to plant an herb garden is choosing the herbs that you want to grow. There are many ways to choose herbs to suit your personal taste and needs.
You can purchase fresh herbs from a garden center. However most herbs have to be harvested and then replanted each year. When growing an herb garden, buy herbs that will mature for at least two years. If possible, choose herbs that will produce flowers. For instance, if you are growing an herb that flowers during the spring and summer months, you should plant it near a rose bush. Choose mint, chives, tarragon, and marjoram that will bloom during the same season as the flowers that will be producing flowers.
Planting an herb garden is relatively easy once you learn the basics of planting and caring for them. An herb garden does not require a lot of special tools or supplies. Most herbs can be started with basic pots and planters. Be sure that you have plenty of drainage holes on the bottom of your pots and on the pots that you plan to place your herbs in. Do not keep herbs inside of the house, but instead place them in an area of your home where they will be easily visible and accessible.
Before you plant your herbs, make sure that you do not over water them. If you do, the roots of the herbs will go into the water before the water has a chance to completely absorb the soil. To ensure proper moisture content for your herbs, use a water sprayer and water your plants just before you put them in the pot.
You will also need to consider the location of your home herb garden when it comes time to choose the herbs you will plant. Since different herbs prefer different sunlight and watering periods, you will need to consider which type of herb you are growing and where it is going to be planted. Most herbs prefer full sun, while others are better off with partial shade.
Once you have decided on a location for your home herb garden, consider what container to purchase. Herbs grow best in pots that are larger than one-fourth of an inch. A square foot of potting soil works well for most herbs, although it may take some effort to get your plants to take up this amount of space. When selecting containers, you should choose ones that have drainage holes on the bottom or sides of the container. Herbs do not like standing water so it is important that you water the soil before putting any plant food in the pot or even before you plan on putting your herbs in the pot.
When your herbs are in their pots, you can plan the rest of the garden layout. Choose containers that are large enough to accommodate your herb planting beds. You can group your herbs together for a uniform look or you can let the natural growth of the herbs express themselves by growing them on different branches. If you have a large herb garden and have a hard time growing certain species of herbs together, you can separate the groups by using wire cages, pots, or containers.
To ensure that your herbs get all of the sunlight they need, you will want to place them in your home herb garden about one inch below street level. The southern exposure of your herbs will help to shade the roots from the harsher sunlight. How to create an herb garden in a container is not difficult when you know what to do. As long as you follow the steps outlined above, you are sure to be a hit with your friends and family. You might be surprised at how quickly you are able to put an attractive arrangement together. The only other thing you will need is a bit of creativity and some beautiful home decor.