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Have fun growing herbs

Entering a herb garden is akin to entering another world. There’s an immediate sense of serenity – your pace slows and problems melt away, yet your senses are switched on. It’s almost as if we are programmed with some primal instinct whereby we know these plants are spiritually uplifting. oany herbs have natural healing qualities and some just taste good! They’re a wonderful addition to any garden, large or small.

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CooK’S GARDEN

A culinary herb garden at the kitchen door is a cook ‘s dream. oost top restaurants with outdoor space now have their own herb gardens, or at least a few tubs in a courtyard from which to snip fresh herbs daily. While it’s nice to have a dedicated herb garden, it’s not necessary. Culinary herbs can be scattered throughout the garden or added to the vegetable patch. Where space is tight, grow a few of the most commonly used ones in containers on the deck. Add a few edible flowers for extra colour on the plate and in the garden too.

A few of my favourite culinary herbs

  • Italian parsley

  • Coriander

  • Basil

  • Lemon balm

  • Lemon thyme

  • Chives

Grow your own herbs for medicinal uses, for the kitchen and for their gorgeous scents

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In tiny gardens, grow herbs in a vertical stack or in a small grow bag

oRNAoENTAL GARDEN

ornamental herb gardens are traditionally formal in design, with strong symmetry, well-defined lines, several points of entry and prominent focal points. They are often enclosed by high hedging and seating provides a relaxing resting place.

Evergreen shrubbery and internal hedging provide structure to the garden – an important element over the winter when herbs die back or look tatty. Filler planting encompasses all types of herbs, aromatic, medicinal and culinary. The overall design is introspective, with vistas leading into the garden, rather than out. This focuses attention on the calming qualities of the plants, blocking negative effects from the outside world. ornamental gardens may be grandiose and structured, or informal with sinuous lines and sweeping pathways.

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FRAGRANT GARDEN

Smell was the first of our senses to evolve and the most likely to evoke memories. Herbs are renowned for their fragrance, which varies from pungent and spicy to sweet. However not all are suited to our extremely individual olfactory senses, so it pays to “try before you buy”. Sniff the aroma of flowers and bruise foliage to release oils before deciding what to include and try to place fragrance at all levels from the ground up. For instance, use thyme or chamomile underfoot, lavender and scented geraniums at hand height and lilac bushes and roses at head height.

HERB GARDEN TIPS

Position in a sunny sheltered spot with friable, free-draining, not overly rich soil.

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Add compost, but not fertiliser, to garden beds

Fertilise selectively, eg roses require regular feeding.

Snip culinary herbs often in spring and summer to prompt fresh growth.

For hedging, plant box, santolina or lavender. For focal points, use obelisks, standard bay trees, sundials, birdbaths, bird-feeders or statuary.

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For height, use honeysuckle or roses over archways; bean or sweetpea teepees; tall, fragrant shrubs like philadelphus or lilac.

Plant mint in a pot seed  to stop it spreading through the garden

A few of my favourite scented herbs

  • Clove pinks

  • Lemon verbena

  • Apothecary’s rose

  • Rosemary

  • Chamomile

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