Help Your Herb Garden Thrive

Herbs add flavor, fragrance, and beauty to your garden, and they're also incredibly useful for cooking and for natural remedies. Starting and maintaining a successful herb garden can be fun and rewarding with the right guidance. Our tips below will give you important information that can help your herb garden flourish. With these tips, gardeners can learn how to create and care for a thriving herb garden that can provide great benefits for your kitchen, well-being, home, and more.

  1. Plan ahead: Spring is the best time to start your garden (after the last frost), but many herbs can be planted in summer and fall as well.
  2. Choose the right location: Make sure your herb garden is in a spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. Morning sun is better than afternoon sun in hotter climates.
  3. Mitigate windchill: Many herbs can survive cold winters, but windchill in areas with winter temps below freezing can do permanent damage to plant tissue. For such conditions, we recommend placing your herbs near a fence, building or hedgerow.
  4. Soil preparation: Herbs prefer well-draining soil with a relatively neutral pH, so amend the soil with compost or other organic matter as needed. Our Starter Soil Kits are perfect for young plants and plants that require well-draining soil. One soil kit is the right size for a #1 (1 gallon) plant.
  5. Select your plants: We recommend ordering ahead to secure the plants you want, and we can usually ship when you are ready for them.
  6. Give them space: Herbs need room to grow and spread, so plant them at least 12 inches apart.
  7. Proper watering: Most herbs don't like to be in standing water, so make sure the soil is well-draining and only water your herbs when the soil is dry. Watering will need to be adjusted in accordance with greater levels of heat and sun exposure.
  8. Prune regularly: Trimming back your herbs can encourage bushier growth and prevent them from getting too leggy. It can also help mitigate pest infestation. Be sure to use clean garden shears.
  9. Harvest often: Regular harvesting can keep your herbs productive and encourage new growth. Plus, it is a great way to make use of their bounty!
  10. Pest control: Keep an eye out for pests, such as aphids, and address them promptly to prevent damage to your herbs.

By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to growing a thriving and productive herb garden!