There are as many ways to lay out your herb garden as there are herbs to grow.
The perennial herb garden may satisfy our sense of taste and smell, but it also delights the eyes. Spice up your garden with the classical forms of Tuscany, the charm of a sunny meadow or the wild spirit of the Southwest. Each of these recipes creates a very different flavor in the garden.
Formal Herb Gardens
Formal herb gardens appeal to those who like symmetry, order and old-world traditions. This garden has a central focal point, such as a large, decorative pot planted with rosemary for height and drama or with thyme for a cascading effect. Herbs are planted symmetrically around the focal point in a square, circle or other geometric pattern. The garden is bordered with a low hedge or stone or brick pavers. Larger gardens contain a series of geometric beds lined with paths.
Informal or Cottage Gardens
Cottage gardens typically are planted in long, curving beds. Herbs and flowers grow side-by-side for maximum color and variation, with the tallest plants growing in the back of the bed. Thyme, oregano or other herbs spill over paths and soften borders; they also release an intoxicating scent as visitors drift by. Cottage gardens meander instead of featuring orderly rows, but they may include a sweep of one plant, such as lavender, along a border.
Planting by Cuisine
This approach to herb gardening involves planting herbs such as rosemary, basil, oregano and parsley together for Italian cooking. For French cuisine, gardeners group rosemary, tarragon, chives, bay and marjoram. Combining the Italian herb companion vegetables, such as tomatoes and garlic, creates a pizza garden. Cilantro, garlic, tomatoes and hot peppers grow together for a salsa garden.
Terrace Gardens
A terrace or patio garden typically features a few favorite herbs in sturdy window boxes. They are well-suited to low-growing herbs, such as parsley, thyme and oregano. Add to the collection with an attractive grouping of ceramic or terracotta pots, which allow large plants, such as rosemary, a separate space to grow. Containers also help keep wide-spreading plants, such as mint, under control.
Rock Gardens
The untamed nature of herbs make them particularly well-suited to rock gardens. Rock gardens can be planted along a sunny slope or berm, providing maximum drainage and small pockets of soil to tuck the herbs in. Woody, compact herbs such as thyme, marjoram and oregano often are featured in rock gardens.
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