Herb Gardens & Landscape Design
It is surprising that, with all the modern science and medicine, that the use of herbs is still on the increase. More and more people are indulging in growing herbs indoors and large numbers are choosing to incorporate a small herb garden into their landscaping design. The great thing about herbs is that they have a multitude of uses and equally so there are a multitude of different ways in which to grow them. This article examines some of the factors which will influence your herb garden design in such a way as not interfering with your overall landscaping design.
As mentioned most herbs have a variety of uses and it is likely that you will have some personal experience of this already. Many herbs are used to enhance the flavor of our cooking and few dishes can excel without them. All of the top chefs agree that the fresher the herbs are the finer the flavor and it is simply impossible to get herbs fresher than those you have picked from your own garden. However herbs are also widely used in aromatherapy and alternative medicine and we still have much to discover in these areas of study.
The really great thing about herb garden design is that, as well as having the uses mentioned above, herbs can also look and smell beautiful especially if planted correctly and cared for well. Some plants are well known in the garden such as lavender. Lavender is something which is used extensively in our household as it is one of the most useful. I use it to aid sleep but also I sometimes add it to a bath to relieve aching muscles. My wife adds it to potpourri and we all enjoy the inviting smell as we walk up our front yard path (as I have a low border either side).
When I design a landscape garden I try to incorporate native trees and shrubs as often as possible into my landscaping design but in recent years I have started to add more and more herbs. Rosemary is a fantastic addition to any landscape or herb garden design as it is an evergreen hardy perennial shrub that has the benefits of small blue, pink or white blossom and a most wonderful aroma is released from the foliage. Although rosemary originated from the Mediterranean area it will grow very well in all temperate regions and can also withstand coastal situations. I tend to use the shrub in hedging but it can also act as a standalone flowering shrub.
While many people choose to dedicate small areas of their yard to their herb garden design I have always opted to include herbs into my landscaping design wherever possible which then means that I only need a very small space to grow any herbs which do not mix well with other plants. A common herb seen in many herb gardens is chives but I have always seen it as a perennial grass like flower as it has the most beautiful small pom-pon flowers of shades of blue through to the white of garlic herbs. At the end of the day it is really down to a matter of taste!
If you are interested in growing a herb garden you will find various articles about herbs throughout this site. At a later date, not too far away, we plan to add a dedicated section about herbs so why not bookmark this site and call back soon?
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