Formal
The formal herb garden designed and grown correctly is arguably the pinnacle of herb gardening! The best examples of these types of herb garden plan beginners are often found around the grounds of stately homes and mansions. They were originally designed to be looked down upon from the top terraces or floors of these grand homes.
The main features of
such gardens are meticulous and time-consuming hedges and topiaries layered in
designs reflecting the beauty of the geometric world. In the hands-on a true
garden artist, wheels, perfect circles and all manner of shapes are modelled
and crafted to create breathtaking pieces of living artwork.
Herb
garden plans beginners |
Formal herb garden plan beginners should
consist of finely cut edges and hedges, well-defined lines, low walls, and
should always include a centrepiece such as a statue, sundial or fountain to
create a strong focal point.
Rock
Gardens
Because they grow well
in confined spaces and are more tolerant of fluctuating water levels in their
soil, many herbs are ideal candidates for a Rock Garden. This type of garden
requires additional work however in the area of pruning and control of your
herb plants growth, due to the fact that some of the more vigorous herbs out
there can try to take over your garden! You should try and find rocks for your
rockery that looks natural and also takes note of how they stack and lay together
in their original environment.
The best rockery’s look
as though they are naturally there and you have built your house around it!
Some herbs that are great for a Rock Garden are Betony, Bugle, Chives,
Columbine, Thyme, Lavender, Creeping Rosemary and Yarrow.
Cottage
Gardens
The concept for a
Cottage herb garden sounds like a big mess but really it is a carefully thought
out, a planned relationship of a mixture of herbs, fruit trees, shrubs and
perennials in a delightful blend of colours and textures which looks great all
year-round.
Topiaries are the
“artist’s herb garden plan beginners ”. Creating topiary demands patience, hard work and almost
constant pruning and shaping of your herb plants to create such shapes as
pyramids, arches, balls and pillars. In some wonderfully talented gardener’s
cases, even buildings and animals appear at the hands of these gifted
craftsmen.
There are two main ways
to create these structures. Train the plant from an early age by pruning and
staking or make the framework of your chosen design out of metal or wire and
grow the plant over the structure, pruning it into its new shape over time.
Some good herbs to use
for these types of gardens are ivy, honeysuckle, mint, bay laurel, cypress,
Buxus and lavender to name but a few. The key to achieving a good topiary is
frequent pruning. It can be all but impossible to return an overgrown topiary
back to its original form.
Hedges
The concept of hedge
herb gardens really deserve their own article due to the many different forms
they can take. The key ideas of a hedge herb garden though are to keep them
well pruned and manicured, grow the hedge to have a slight taper from top to
bottom to allow decent light through to the bottom of the hedge and ensure that
the distance between hedging plants is less than half of the intended height of
the hedge. It is also a good idea to keep a few extra potted, growing plants of
the same type as your hedge to allow for replanting of dead areas of your
hedge.
Perennial
Border
A perennial border is
normally made with herbs such as mint, lemon balm, bergamot, fennel, angelica
and other like herbs. It is a great concept because in the warmer months when
the herbs are in full flight, they spread and fill their garden bed with colour
and fragrance. Then when the cooler months set in, they die back to their root
systems leaving a bare strip that creates a more spacious appearance.
Xeriscape
gardens
Xeriscape gardens are
perfect for those gardeners facing the tragic burden of water restrictions! A
xeriscape is defined as a specifically designed garden containing plants with
similar water requirements. Many herbs fall into the category of low water,
drought-resistant xeriscape and most culinary herbs can actually be
successfully grown in areas only getting a paltry 1cm of water a week!
You can identify herbs
that will do well in these conditions by their leaves and also roots. Those
herbs with small silvery coloured leaves, long taproot systems and also herbs
originating from the hot dry regions of the Mediterranean will all thrive in a
xeriscape garden.
These gardens are the best herb garden plan for beginners watered infrequently, but deeply, to encourage deep root growth. A good tip is to not water these plants when they look strong and vigorous. If they do not seem to recover once the heat of the day has gone, then it is time to give them a drink! Great herbs in a xeriscape are Artemisia, Betony, Catnip, Chamomile, Jerusalem, Marjoram, Rosemary, Thyme and Yarrow but there are many more.
This brings us to the end of our introduction to some of the most popular types and designs for herb gardens. Choose one that suits you, your environment and your surroundings or simply create your own! The choice is yours!
My name is Palash and
for years I have enjoyed the relaxing and fulfilling hobby of growing herb garden plan beginners at
home. Nothing beats the fresh taste of homegrown herbs in comparison to buying
ones and whether you live on a farm, in an apartment, or anywhere in between,
there is room for a home herb garden at your place!
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