Whether you have a window to work with or are building a sophisticated garden bed, anyone can create an indoor or outdoor herb garden. You may wonder if basil grows well with lavender, rosemary with coriander or mint indoors. Maybe you're trying to figure out the best way to use a bright kitchen counter in your apartment, or you need inspiration for an outdoor garden that's as beautiful as it is functional.
We've collected 30 herb garden ideas to help you grow indoor or outdoor herb gardens, how to plan a well-designed herb garden, and the best types of containers and materials for your garden.
build a raised bed
There is something truly pastoral about a raised bed. When you have them in your garden, put on a gown, straw hat and write cute little signs to mark your rows of herbs and vegetables. Plus, if you have the space, it's one of the best ways to keep grass away from animals. Add chicken wire to keep out larger animal companions like deer.
Place a pollinator garden in front of your bed
Let your flowers do double duty. Plant native flowers and pollinators in front of your raised bed to attract bees to flowering plants and provide food for butterfly larvae.
Get the garden moving
Since you planted the seeds outside, they don't have to live there. If your plants grow in winter, bring them inside.
"Having a southwest-facing position means I enjoy rosemary, parsley, chives, thyme, and chocolate mint indoors," says author and gardener Charlotte Ecker Wiggins.
When growing herbs together, consider how they will grow. Lavender, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme are Mediterranean herbs that do well in dry soil. At the other end of the spectrum, cilantro, parsley, and basil require a lot of water and thrive in moist, sunny environments.
Want to grow lavender and basil together? Not too fast. Both love the sun, but unlike any plant combination, they don't work because of their need for water.
Hang herbs over your table
Ferns and scrolls hang beautifully from the ceiling, especially in sunny windows. But save at least one of those hanging containers for the herbs you use as garnishes in the kitchen.
Grow aromatic plants indoors
Who needs candles when you have herbs?
Rebecca Sears, Ferry-Morse's CMO and Resident Green Thumb says, "Mint is a plant I recommend growing indoors because it's so aromatic and a light touch of the leaves will fill your home with a strong mint scent."
Also, mint can be used in teas for herbal notes.
Keep the basket away from the claws of pets
Whether they're toxic or highly attractive, you can use vertical space to keep certain plants away from animals (and children).
"I keep the cat in a hanging basket to protect it from claws," says Wiggins.
Spread your precious plants
Although its lush appearance is reminiscent of a beautiful English garden, resist the urge to overwater your lawn.
“While it may seem good to keep them together, allow air to circulate around each plant. This will help reduce any pests that may enter the garden," Wiggins said.
Try moisture-loving herbs in the shower
If you live in a small apartment where the bathroom is steps away from the kitchen, bring herbs like basil or cilantro into the bathroom. You will enjoy humidity and high humidity as effectively as a greenhouse.
Keep herbs by your bar cart
"Mint is great for mixing in if you like to make cocktails or smoothies that require fresh mint or as a garnish," suggests Sears.
Besides, you can't beat a horn or two on a summer lemonade.
Plant a formal herb garden
An herb garden can work with any space, and if you have a lot of space, use it. Plant a formal herb garden, which is a formal ornamental garden, but with a practical twist. With the right planning, you can grow everything from bee balm to cilantro, tarragon, and chamomile.
Install a grow light
Don't let your herb garden go to waste because your home lacks natural light.
"No matter what type of herb you plant inside, I recommend lighting a window to maximize light, as all herbs prefer full sun, meaning more than 6 hours of sunlight per day," says Sears.
Use your seedlings for a touch of spring
"Starting herb seeds indoors is a great way to keep greenery out of season and develop a strong root system before moving the seedlings to the outdoor garden," says Sears. Who needs to go to Trader Joe's flower section to discover spring?
Use a grow kit
The grow kit gives you a ready-made home with all the tips and tricks you need to get your plants off to a good start.
"I recommend looking for a kit with the most seed-starting materials, such as seeds, seed-starting balls, and a tabletop greenhouse," says Sears. You also need to make sure you have a heat mat to help the seeds germinate, and lights to give your plants the 'sun' they don't get outside.'
Add herbs to the rock garden
From thyme to rosemary and marjoram to sage, there are a variety of plants that thrive in a rock garden. It's a desert-inspired look that you can accent with florals, succulents, and of course, herbs.
Surround the terrace with grass that repels mosquitoes
Plants like lemongrass and lavender are known for their insect and mosquito repellent properties. Although it doesn't work as well as a spray, it will add a beautiful scent and green to your garden.
Buy or build a hydroponic garden
Although hydroponic gardens have been around for thousands of years, they have only recently received a lot of attention as small space savers. Whether you're going for a ready-made hydroponic garden or trying to DIY, this smart indoor garden will let your plants grow without soil. Instead, they use nutrient solutions based on water and various minerals.
Sears explains, "Most herbs can be grown indoors or outdoors, but leafy herbs such as parsley, basil, and cilantro are best grown indoors."
He recommends starting with cilantro, because it tolerates a bit of sun. "It's more difficult to grow slow-growing woods or Mediterranean herbs like rosemary, sage, and lavender that like full sun indoors," says Sears.
Fill the terracotta plants with grass
Terracotta plants don't have to be just for houseplants. Use filler herbs like shrubs, such as rosemary or lavender, and treat them like landscape plants, except you can collect them.
It is covered with a concrete cover
Use concrete pavers not only to create patios, but also to keep fast grasses like mint from spreading. They will move quickly around the garden, but not if you deliberately line them up in a paving grid pattern.
Use the side garden
Do you have one of those side yards that turns into a desert? Use it for a fragrant garden full of herbs and pollinators. Once the bees are in the side garden, there is no need to disturb them and they will thrive on the flowering grass.
Choose small ornamental plants for the garden
If you have a sunny window, you can grow a sweet vegetable garden with basil, thyme and other herbs. Choose small decorative containers and prune your herbs regularly to keep them healthy, both in the kitchen and in limited container sizes.
Plant woody grass for year-round landscaping
For those who prefer a low-maintenance approach to their herb garden, plant woody herbs such as lavender and rosemary year-round. In many climates, this evergreen grass continues to grow through winter.
Use a self-watering container
For herbs that absorb a lot of water, such as parsley, oregano and mint, choose a self-watering pot that will keep them moist all day, even if you're leaving town for a short trip.
Turn a wooden pallet into a garden
Flattened wooden pallets make for a well-tended herb garden with plenty of room for different herbs to grow and plenty of flat surfaces to write on. You can mount it on the wall or in a city park.
Place the garden on the balcony
If you have a small balcony with no space for pots and plants, install a vertical garden against the wall. You'll find plenty of room for all the herbs you use most that work best in a small space: basil, dill, cilantro, parsley, and more.
Use the shovel
Trellis are often wasted, serving only one functional (and important) purpose. So why not use it as a plant? Hang the rail planter from a sunny fence and watch your herbs bloom. Be aware of who may be at the bottom when you stream.
Build a vertical garden
Even if you have a garden, a vertical garden made of terracotta pots or wooden boxes has a rustic charm. Easy to DIY, they're great for herbs growing in bushes or spilling out of pots.
Draw the stone face
You can grow herbs in a rock garden or create a rock wall with herbs cascading down the sides, both of which benefit from the protection of the wall as they grow through it. Try savory or trailing thyme.
Plant the herbs in the prepared container
You don't need to buy all new pots, plants and containers made specifically for your herb garden. Whatever you use, a metal can, an old wooden box, an old plastic can or a bottle. Make sure there is adequate drainage and your plants won't notice the difference.
Grow your herbs in water
Forget gardens, soil and clutter with a small indoor garden. Plant herbs such as basil, thyme, mint and parsley in water and allow them to take root. They keep growing, fresh decorations are always on hand, and you don't have to worry about pests hiding them underground.
Recycle broken glass
Have you ever ripped the handle off your favorite glass and wondered if there was a way to save it? Use it as a container for miniature versions of your favorite herbs, such as rosemary, oregano or thyme, ensuring proper drainage.
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