Planting herbs in your vegetable and flower beds works quite well, as long as you plant your herbs in sunny location with well-drained soil. But you can also de
For the best herbs available for your meals and your medicine cabinet, you'll want to grow your own herb garden!
Add elegance to your garden with an aromatic array of greenery by using this classic herb garden idea, complete with plants, hardscape, and layout plans.
For the best herbs available for your meals and your medicine cabinet, you'll want to grow your own herb garden!
These are the herbs that grow well together and those that don't. Companion planting has long been recognized as a valuable technique in gardening, and when
Do you feel intimidated by growing your own herbs? Here’s how to start an herb garden with five healing, easy-to-grow herbs.
An introduction to Culinary Herbs that will add beauty and flavor to the garden.
Plan and plant your own healing medicinal herb garden this summer to help customize your specific medical needs all year long.
Add elegance to your garden with an aromatic array of greenery by using this classic herb garden idea, complete with plants, hardscape, and layout plans.
9 Herbs that want to take over your garden. Whether they reseed themselves or send out runner, these herbs need controlled carefully or they will takeover your garden!
As you peer into the future, imagine how you might interact with your dream garden. Take a moment to write down all the reasons you wish to grow herbs, and how you might incorporate their medicine and beauty into your life.
What could be better than having fresh herbs in your garden return every spring? Growing perennial herbs in your garden means you can reap the benefits of growing edible and medicinal herbs from one growing
% How to design a potager vegetable and flower garden %
Love the idea of fresh, homegrown herbs but don't have much time for gardening? These delicious perennial herbs will come back reliably year after year. Even if you don't have a dedicated veggie patch or
Love the idea of fresh, homegrown herbs but don't have much time for gardening? These delicious perennial herbs will come back reliably year after year. Even if you don't have a dedicated veggie patch or
Discover 8 essential herbs for your garden that enhance ecosystem health, attract beneficial insects, and minimize maintenance efforts.
A kitchen garden design that includes four-square organic rotation combines classic design, is easy to plant and creates a healthy vegetable garden.
6:55 pm - 43 degrees - cloudy... Every year I have grand gardening plans. But then life gets in the way and I get distracted by things that “need” to be done instead of the things that I “want” to get done. But this year nothing is going to stop me; I’m going to put in a backyard herb garden. When a recipe calls for fresh basil, I want to be able to skip the poor substitute of dried basil. A last-minute dash to the grocery store for some overpriced wilted basil is out of the question since it would be over an hour and a half round trip. I want to be able to walk outside and pluck a few tender leaves off of the basil plant growing in my very own herb garden whenever the need arises. I have the location picked out that fits the basic requirements of a successful herb garden - well-drained soil that is neutral to slightly acid and at least five hours of sunlight a day. I have the herbs that I want picked out - Basil, Chamomile, Chives, Garlic, Lavender, Mint, and Parsley. Now I just have to figure out what design/layout I want. Below are some pictures of backyard herb gardens I found online to use as inspiration... photo source: megahowto.com photo source: harfay.com photo source: makinghomebase.com photo source: motherearthnews.com photo source: savingbydesign.com photo source: twopeasandtheirpod.com
There are several, beautiful, easy-to-grow medicinal herbs that can be grown in the shade garden. These top 8 are among my favorite herbs to plant in shade.
Mark Lane, the UK's first garden designer in a wheelchair and presenter on BBC Gardeners' World, with his top tips for a safe, secure and beautiful garden.
Do you have shady parts of your yard where you'd like to grow herbs? Here are more than 35 herbs that grow in shade! Many are easy to grow, even in cold climates. #gardening
My design is very simple. I like to repeat some flowers in the border, but I also like to use a random planting scheme that gives a naturalistic face for it. I like very much to use annuals, biennials, and tender perennials with the perennials and self-seeding plants.
Chives are a wonderful herb in the kitchen. Here are ten benefits of growing chives and why you should have them in your herb garden!
Herbs are easy to grow, they don’t take up a lot of space and they are a healthy way to add more flavor to your cooking. Whether you’re a beginning gardener or looking to elevate your culinary skills, an herb garden is the way to go.
Plant these herbs once and they'll come back every year meaning you can have an endless supply of nutritious and delicious fresh herbs all year long.
Are you thinking of growing an herb garden? Why not learn how to make this DIY spiral herb garden!
Got a shady spot in your garden? These herbs thrive in shady spots so none of your garden has to go to waste.
Would you love to step out into the garden and gather medicine for your family? Do you dream of a pretty garden full of useful herbs? Many of you have told me you do...but you don't know where to start. "Which herbs should I grow?" is a common question. Today, I'm going to walk you through the decision-making process - and suggest a few specific herbs, too. The Best Way to Begin a Medicinal Herb Garden The best place to begin planning a medicinal herb garden is not by sketching out designs or browsing through herb books or magazines. Instead, sit down with a notebook and pencil and make a few lists. 1. Start by writing down every herb you currently use for health and wellness. These are things you currently buy (or would buy if you felt you could afford to), and might include everything from cold and flu treatments to everyday supplements to treat specific ailments. 2. Next, make a list of every ailment you hope to treat via medicinal herbs. For example, you might write: immune function, colds/flu, minor wounds, insomnia, high blood pressure. 3. Now take your first list (the one of herbs you buy) and research each plant. At this point, you really only need to know if the herb will grow in your area, so I suggest a simple Google search: "USDA gardening zone" and the plant name. (For example: "USDA gardening zone echinacea.") Cross out any plants that don't grow in your zone. (To learn what your zone is, visit Garden.org.) Truly, unless you have a greenhouse or the plant lends itself to indoor growing, there's little point in trying to grow herbs that don't love your region; they simply won't thrive where you live. 4. Finally, look at your second list (the one that notes ailments). Research which herbs are best for each ailment and whether or not they grow in your region. To help you get started, see my recommendations below. Great Immune System, Cold, and Flu Herbs Almost everybody who is interested in herbal medicine wants to grow plants that boost the immune system and stave off colds and the flu - so let's start there. If you have some experience with natural medicine, you may already have some go-to plants for these purposes. If that's the case, you can simply Google the name of the plant and "USDA gardening zone," as recommended in step 3. Herbal Antibiotics by Stephen Buhner. If you aren't familiar with herbs in the cold/flu category, here are a few that grow throughout most of the U.S. (For a much more thorough look at this class of herbs, I highly recommend Stephen Harrod Buhner's Herbal Antibiotics and Herbal Antivirals. Everyone who is serious about using herbs for medicine should own and read these books.) Elderberry (S. nigra and S. canadensis; USDA gardening zones 3 - 8) is powerful medicine for treating the flu and boosting the immune system. Elderberry is a bush, but it grows as large as a small tree, so you'll want to grow this plant away from most of your herbs, since it will cast shade on your garden. Hop over to The Spruce to learn how to grow elderberry. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra; USDA gardening zones 9 - 11) is another well known antiviral and immune booster, and is also good for adrenal function, certain ulcers, and works as a demulcent. Licorice likes moist, well-draining, and fertile soil. Learn more about growing it at Mother Earth News. Sweet wormwood (Artemesia annua; USDA gardening zones 3 - 8) stimulates the immune system. It also protects the liver and builds blood, including after chemo or radiation treatment. Sweet wormwood isn't picky about soil as long as it is well-draining; it is also drought tolerant. Learn more about growing it at The Spruce. Elderberry flowers. Juniper (Juniperus communis; USDA gardening zones 2 - 8) is a common ornamental plant, but it also is a strong antiviral. It's particularly useful for urinary tract and bladder infections, as well as kidney issues. It has culinary uses, too. Learn how to grow juniper over at Mother Earth News. Ginger (Zingiber officinale; USDA gardening zones 7 or higher) is a great antiviral, and easy to use in cooking, as well as medicine. If it doesn't grow in your zone, you may be able to grow it indoors. Herbal Antivirals by Stephen Buhner. See Gardener's Path for tips on growing ginger outdoors. Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous; USDA gardening zones 5 - 9) is an immune booster. Other uses for this herb include liver protection and blood building. It's native to China, but is easy to grow in many parts of the U.S. Like many herbs, it can handle shade or full sun, and likes well-drained soil. Learn more about growing it at Heirloom Organics. Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum; USDA gardening zones 3 and up) is an antiviral and is also used to heal acne, improve the lymphatic system, and reduce swollen glands. It's an easy herb to grow as long as you give it rich, moist soil. Learn more about growing boneset at Heirloom Organics. Echinacea (Echinacea spp.; USDA gardening zones 3 - 8 ) is well-known as a cold treatment, but it is also good for infections. Other uses include treating infected wounds and immunity-boosting. Learn how to grow it at American Meadows. Garlic (Allium sativum; all USDA gardening zones). Most people think of this as a vegetable, but raw garlic is antibacterial. Almost anyone in the U.S. can grow garlic, and it is easy to tend. Learn more about growing it at Grey Duck Garlic. Great Wound Care Herbs Another category of herbs almost everyone is interested in is wound care. Here are some good herbs to explore and consider for your garden: Yarrow. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.; USDA gardening zones 3 - 9) stops bleeding and is used to treat bug bites and minor scrapes and cuts. It loves full sun and well-draining soil. Learn how to grow yarrow over at Old Farmer's Almanac. Plantain (Plantago lanceolata, major; USDA gardening zones 5 - 9) is an excellent "draw," as well as antiseptic and astringent. It even helps pull the flesh together for faster healing. It is a common weed in the U.S., but some herbal supply sources carry the seeds, too. See Heirloom Organics for more information on growing plantain. Comfrey (Symphytum officinale; USDA gardening zones 4 - 8) encourages the growth of healthy new tissue and is an excellent treatment for bruises, broken bones, sprains, and pulled muscles, too. Comfrey tolerates most soils, but all varieties except Blocking 14 spread like mad. See Grow Veg for more growing tips. Calendula (Calendula officinalis; USDA gardening zones 2 - 11) is also used to promote healthy new tissue, particularly if scarring could be detrimental. Additionally, it is an antiseptic. Calendula isn't too picky about soil and if left to go to seed, replants itself each year. See Planet Natural for tips on growing Calendula. Drying calendula. Willow (Salix spp.; most zones) is useful as a natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory agent, much like aspirin. It also speeds the healing of wounds (when used as a wash). Willow, being a tree, should be planted where it won't shade the rest of your herb garden. See Cornell's website for more growing info. Finishing Your List Making Plant Medicine by Cech. Next, move on to special conditions you or your family have. For example, if someone in your family has a tendency toward high blood pressure, you'll want to consider growing dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) and hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) If someone has gout, dandelion and bugleweed (Lycopus americanus L.) may prove useful. If someone else tends toward gas, catnip (Nepeta cataria) will be handy. And so on. If you're not sure what herbs treat the conditions you are likely to bump into, I recommend the book Making Plant Medicine by Richo Cech. It includes excellent information on various conditions and what herbs are best for treating them. (Cech also sells a nice variety of medicinal seeds that can be hard to find elsewhere.) The Ultimate Dandelion Medicine Book by yours truly. Other Tips: * I can't stress this enough: Just because an herb that is a great treatment doesn't mean it will grow in your area. Always Google what gardening zone is assigned to each plant. Otherwise, your garden is doomed to fail. * Start small. It's tempting to plant every herb you think you'll ever need, but you'll experience much more success if you start small, adding a few plants each year. This way, you can ensure your gardening spot is appropriate, that you have time to tend to the garden, that you'll use what you plant, and so on. * All your medicinals don't need to be planted in one specially designated herb garden. In fact, since different plants have different soil, sun, and nutrient requirements, it's sometimes better to scatter them across appropriate places in your yard. * Bear in mind that many herbs have ornamental varieties. For example, there are lots of pretty shades of yarrow designed to look nice in gardens, but only the original, white variety is highly medicinal. Always look at the Latin names of plants. (Again, Cech's medicinal seeds are a great resource, since he does not include any non-medicinal plants.) Catnip. (Courtesy of Claudia Daggett.) * Pay attention to how big each plant will grow. A common error is to plant herbs too close together or to put tall herbs where they will put shorter ones in shade. * Some herbs will take over the world if you let them. For example, mints will spread everywhere unless you contain them in a pot...and even then, you might want that pot to sit on concrete so the mint doesn't root in nearby soil! Lemon balm, comfrey, chives, parsley, and bee balm are also common offenders. * Even if you don't have a lot of room, you can enjoy medicinal herbs. Herbs do well potted on your porch, and many will thrive on your windowsill. The #1 Biggest Mistake When Growing Herbs Cover image courtesy Waleed Anwar.
Learn which herbs are perennials and have fresh, fragrant herbs on hand without needing to spend money and time replanting every year.
Herbs have a long history of being used for both culinary and medicinal purposes. They truly are the reason for the famous quote, "let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be thy food." Here are 13 must-have culinary and medicinal herbs for your home herb garden. * * * I didn’t grow
Planting a garden? Don't forget to mark what you planted. Here are 25 upcycled plant marker ideas.
So ladies… How are those designs coming along? I have been getting emails of photographs of nice big, gorgeous backyards… I envy the space some of you have to work with! This evening I want to briefly talk about your design creativity & focal point. “A Potager is where form meets function. Where nutrition meets […]
Learn how to dry and preserve herbs with this great guide. Enjoy dried herbs with the best flavor when preserved fresh from the garden.
Green ideas influence traditional and contemporary home decorating
Grow an Apothecary Garden: Flowers and Herbs for Healing...This age-old tradition of cultivating a garden specifically with healing in mind is easy to replicate in the home garden, whether you dedicate a bed for growing healing herbs and flowers or plant them throughout your garden space.
Planting herbs together in one container is a beautiful way to have the herbs you need at your fingertips, but be sure the ones you choose are compatible with one another.
For more than 20 years, garden designer Dan Pearson has overseen the evolution of the garden at Torrecchia Vecchia near Rome from neglected wilderness to romantic paradise
Create your own personal list of top ten medicinal herbs, tailored to your climate and health concerns. Build a dream medicinal herb garden!
WOW! This list of fun and super easy DIY herb gardens is just what you need! Indoor and outdoor versions make it easy for anyone to grow herbs at home!
Go outside! You look like you need a little sun.
