The right location
Herbs sometimes have very different demands on their location, although the general rule is that most herbs need a lot of sun and warmth. An almost ideal location is therefore the south wall of the house or a wall. Hedges also protect against wind and frost damage. A few herbs, such as wild garlic, lovage or mint, on the other hand, prefer partially shaded or even shady places. They grow best on the edges of hedges or under trees.
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Do not cultivate hardy herbs in pots
Many exotic and some Mediterranean species are not winter hardy here and should therefore be cultivated in pots. Examples are: lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), diptame (Origanum dictamnus), real ginger (Zingiber officiale) or many varieties of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). Herbs cultivated in pots are in good hands on a balcony (or terrace) facing south or west. In addition, they almost always need a light and frost-free winter quarters.
What kind of soil do herbs feel good on?
Well-drained, medium-rich soils are ideal for the healthy growth of almost all herbs. However, some species - especially those from the Mediterranean region - need permeable, but rather nutrient-poor soil. Before you start planting and sowing, you should first inquire about the special needs of the selected species and varieties - and work up your garden soil accordingly if necessary.
Prepare the garden soil before planting
Intensive floor care improves all floors and is therefore particularly important. Heavy, greasy soils are particularly suitable for very few herbs. They are cold, often compacted and tend to become waterlogged - not exactly ideal for healthy root growth. In order to improve these soils sustainably, air and a lot of humus must be in the soil. To do this, regularly dig the soil thoroughly and loosen it up with sand. Green manure, regular application of compost and constant mulching also improve the soil sustainably over the years. Lean sandy soils, on the other hand, can be improved by adding green manure, mulch (€ 213.00 on Amazon *), rock flour (€ 14.95 on Amazon *) and compost. If the soil is very sandy, adding clay will also help.
Planning a herb garden
Careful planning of the herb garden prevents a lot of trouble later - because if you look in advance which places in the garden are more sunny, which are more shady and where the soil is rather poor and where more clayey, you can choose the herb types and varieties precisely and plant. After the right location has been found and the desired herbs have been selected, the design and division of the beds are planned. There are countless possibilities for this, depending on the purpose and use of the garden. In kitchen gardens, herb beds are usually laid out according to formal criteria, while we know mixed cultures with herbs and vegetables from typical cottage gardens. Herbs can also enrich borders or the natural garden by combining them with ornamental plants.
Herbs for the rock garden
Most Mediterranean herbs do not tolerate heavy or even waterlogged soils. They need a lot of warmth in summer and moisture is particularly difficult for them in winter. These species grow much more naturally on poor soils, are more aromatic and produce more active ingredients. Often the rock garden culture is the best solution. The location is sunny, the soil nice and warm and dry. By choosing the stones you can influence the soil, limestones, for example, continuously shed lime and create good growing conditions for savory, lavender, marjoram, stonecrop, rosemary, sage, thyme, wormwood and hyssop.
Herbs in the raised bed
Raised beds are often built on less fertile, stony or sandy soils. The frames made of wooden boards, wickerwork or stone are filled with compostable materials and good topsoil so that the herbs can grow lush here. Basically, a raised bed can be built anywhere, the only important thing is that the location has sufficient sunlight. The length of the beds is arbitrary, but they should not be wider than a maximum of one meter - so the plants can still be easily reached.
Build a herb spiral yourself
Herbal spirals create space for many plants in a confined space, whereby all herbs get their ideal location - dry or moist, lean or humus, sunny or partially shaded. The correct arrangement of the plants ensures that everyone can grow in a good neighborhood. The shape of the herb spiral is reminiscent of a snail shell. The stones are laid out in a spiral and stacked higher and higher towards the center. When you layer the stones, you fill in the soil immediately. Particularly important: fill in the soil that the herbs to be planted prefer.
Tips
Dry stone walls are also wonderfully suitable for planting with herbs. Limestones are particularly suitable for this because they have a positive influence on the acidity of the soil and many herbs love warm, slightly calcareous soils.
