Herb
gardens are sources of delightful and healthy produce and an attractive part ofthe outdoor landscape. Herbs can
be planted in garden beds and or in containers and can also serve as attractive
borders for hedges and flower gardens.
Most
herbs like sunlight, but some, such as chervil, parsley, coriander, and
vigorous herbs such as comfrey and lemon balm, do well in the sun or shade. So first
off determine how much sunlight the various planting areas in your backyard get
each day. Take a whole day and check on an hourly basis sunlight exposure of areas
in your yard that are suitable for planting. Sun loving herbs require six to
eight hours of sunlight each day; but you can also move herbs growing in
containers from one sunny are to another as the light exposure changes
throughout the day. Keep in mind that herb gardens close to the kitchen door
are most convenient. They're easy to access and the savory scents of the herbs will
wisp through the window, adding a pleasant fragrance to your cooking area.
Herbs
grow best in a light soil that drains well and is easy to till. Seeds can be
planted in furrows that are several inches deep, but fully grown herbs will
need a minimum of eight inches of top soil to grow in. You can test drainage by
running a hose for a few minutes and looking for puddles. You can change the
constitution of the soil by adding clay, peat moss and fertilizer. Herbs like a
moderate amount of fertilizer. Too much fertilization may weaken some herbs and
cause plant disease. Ideal soil Ph for
herbs is around 6.5.
You
can plant herbs indoors, directly outdoors, or purchase them from a nursery.
Each option has its advantage and disadvantages depending on the type of herb. Seeds of
annual herbs (basil, coriander, dill and oregano) can be started indoors and
grown year round or you can move them outdoor 5-10 weeks after planting. Perennial
herbs, like chives, parsley, sage, sweet marjoram and thyme, can be started
from seed but are often most conveniently purchased as young plants from a
nursery. Because perennials grow for more than one season, it’s best to keep
them outside in pots during the summer and bring them in before the first frost.
A few herbs including rosemary, oregano, and mint are best propagated by
cuttings or transplantation.
Herbs
are delicate and require special care for winter survival. Ensure that your perennial
herbs survive the cold weather by making certain they go into the winter
healthy. Avoid late fall fertilizing or pruning. As soon as the ground freezes,
spread a loose four inch mulch such as straw, boughs of an evergreen tree, oak
leaves, etc. around the base of each plant. A few herbs, including oregano,
lemon verbena, and rosemary, can't survive in the cold temperatures. Dig up
plants such as these, replant them in containers, and take them indoors for the
winter. Then replant them outdoors when the weather turns warm again in the
spring.
For help with landscaping and landscape design in the Yortktown Heights and Westchester County and Putnam County, NY., call the Turf Barbers at 914 302 2469; 2929 Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598; http://www.theturfbarbers.com
