Guest Author - Hellie T.

Herb gardens have always had an important place in an English Garden. You can decide whether you would like a formal design or sprinkling of herbs around the garden. There is a wide selcetion to choose from – annuals, perennials and shrubs.

Go to your local garden centre and look at their selection and if you are not sure what herbs grow well in your area then ask - it is also worth asking local friends which herbs grow well for them.

Getting Started
Plan your design to suit yourself and your site. Make a list of your favourite herbs – most herbs do best in the sun so if you are going to have a formal herb garden check to see that it has sun for at least half the day. Herbs grow well in enclosed spaces where they are sheltered from cold winds so if you have a small town garden they would be an excellent choice.

Does your soil drain well? Herbs like to have good drainage and hate to have soggy roots!

If you are going to plant informally decide where you want your herbs to go – by a seat, by the path, by the front or back door – remember if you want to pick them then plant them somewhere you can easily reach them.

For a formal herb garden - measure the space where you are going to place it and make a simple drawing of it on graph paper.


Making a focal point

In the centre of your design you need to create a focal point. A large pot in the middle of your herb garden could be used – a good idea for mints that have a strong will to spread! Or it could be a pot containing less hardy herbs that you take in in the winter or perhaps a shrub such as myrtle or bay.

Another idea would be to have a topiary shape either in a pot or planted straight into the soil – and the shape doesn’t have to be complicated.
Or perhaps you would like a bird bath, a sundial, a wooden obelisk, a small seat, an interesting piece of driftwood or large rock?


Shape
A formal herb garden is easiest if you plant in straight lines and use simple geometric shapes and frame them with low hedges and/or paths.

Remember that you need at least one path through your herb garden unless it is small enough to reach into the centre from each side. Paths can be made of bark, pavers, paving slabs or gravel and should be wide enough to allow you to weed comfortably.

It is easier to have a herb garden on a level site and near to the house so you can pick your herbs easily even in the winter months.


Planting

Use hardy perennials that have brightly coloured leaves which will look good all the year round and are easy to care for.

Plant golden marjoram, lemon balm, red, purple and golden sages, hyssop, rue, lavender, thymes, rosemary and santolinas as these are all quite long lived and not prone to diseases. All they need is a light clipping in late summer to keep them in shape.

Herbs for intermingling
If you want to create an informal planting of herbs then try a border of perennial herbs around your vegetable patch or plant them amongst your flowers in beds and borders. Grow hops, honeysuckle, jasmine and roses over arches and fences.

Under seats or in paths you can grow chamomiles and thymes that won’t mind being stood on now and again and will release a lovely scent as they are crushed.

Plant bergamot, lavender, pinks, lemon thyme, wallflowers, and honeysuckle which will give you some delicious scents. Don’t forget Rosa gallica – officinalis which has lovely scented crimson pink petals and doesn’t grow too big.

Herbs for low hedges
Chives, lavender, curry plant, cotton lavender, hyssop dwarf pinks, feverfew and box.

Tall herbs
Try elecampane, angelica, bronze fennel, hollyhocks, Madonna lilies, mulleins, clary sage, teasels or marsh mallow at the back of your borders or beside a wall or fence.
If you have room - grow a lilac, buddleia, Deutzia elegantissima or philadelphus

Herbs for moist soil and part shade
Lovage figwort, St. John’s wort, Lily of the valley, sweet cicely, lady’s mantle, Jacob’s ladder, chervil, meadowsweet, primroses, parsley and bergamots.

Enjoy your garden