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An herb garden can be as small or as large as you want. It can be done for culinary, medicinal, or aromatic purposes. Then again, it can also be an all-purpose herb garden. Some herb gardens are made around a theme e.g. a Chinese or a Roman herb garden and herb gardens are especially enjoyable to the blind.

1. Site selection
Once you have decided on what you want, you have to decide how large you want the garden to be and how much effort you are prepared to put in towards maintenance. Select a sunny, protected site or create one. At least three-quarters of your space should be in the sun during most of the day since most herbs are of Mediterranean origin. Take care that the site does not become water logged during the rainy season - adjust the drainage if needed. Many herbs can survive in poor, stony soil but few will survive waterlogged soil.

2. Design
You can either have a classical formal herb garden or an informal one. Classical gardens are laid out in geometric shapes and are easier to care for while informal gardens look more appealing but the herbs can become mixed up quite easily. Remember to leave space for paths if you are planning on using the herbs at all. The design phase of the garden should be done just like any garden, on paper with notes as to direction of sun etc.

3. Plants
Your choice of plants will depend on your purpose - culinary, medicinal, etc. There are many sources where you can see descriptions of the herb plant that will aid you in deciding whether you want it in your garden. Some herbs like peppermint are invasive and you might not want that, while others are annuals and you may want to plant the garden once and then only bother with maintenance. You must also think three-dimensionally - width, depth and height. It's no good having the bushy thyme hidden behind the bushy lavender! Some herbs grow so tall that you made need support for it, e.g. jasmine.

4. Bed preparation
Once you have marked out your site, dig deeply and create a fine upper layer, then rake smoothly. This is best done in spring. Let the beds settle for about a week if you plant seeds, but seedlings can be planted immediately. If you need drainage amendment, mix coarse grit and horticultural sand into the top 45 cm (18 inches) of soil. You can also add compost but don't add too much peat - it does not contribute nutrients and may make the beds too acid. Weed while you prepare the beds and make sure that you dig up tap rooted weeds.

5. Planting
Herb seedlings should be treated just like other seedlings - with care, and follow the instructions on the tray. Avoid planting on hot or rainy days. Tap the soil form around the seedling without compacting it. Water them regularly until they are established.

6. Maintenance
Most herbs benefit from regular cutting and pruning. If you pick the leaves for use do not remove more than one fifth of the leaves on any plant at one time. If you pinch out the growing tips first, some herbs will grow bushier (e.g. basil, marjoram, oregano). Most herbs should be picked early in the morning or in the evening - check which ones you have. Do not add artificial fertiliser to you herb beds - the herbs will grow very well but will lack in taste and aroma. If you have severe frost and/or snow in winter, you may need to winter protect your herbs, or even bring them indoors.

You will discover within the first season whether your garden is panning out like you envisaged it, or whether you need to rearrange it. Within two years you will see which herbs do well and which don't, and which do too well!

Learn more about this author, Santi Meintjes.
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