It was about a year and a half ago that I helped my mom with a barren area of her yard by planting an herb garden. The back flower bed along the fence was full of weeds and she was very reluctant to plant anything. She was nervous about watering and any maintenance. Her soil is pretty heavy clay and there can be standing water at times in the winter after heavy rains. Here is a picture of what we were working with to start.
It took some convincing, but I am a big believer that bare soil is an open invitation for plant pioneers – a.k.a. weeds. Turning the space into an herb garden would prevent the on-going battle with weeds and create a low-maintenance planting area. The view from her french doors look right at this spot, so choosing perennial herbs meant there would be something to look at all year. I also tried to look for things with different colors and textures to add more visual interest back there.
I began by digging out all the weeds. I then took cuttings from some of my own herbs at home: rosemary, thyme, lime-green oregano, purple sage, and chives. It was November, so they wouldn’t need watering to get established.
I separated some crowded irises she had in a corner of the yard. Along with the herb divisions, I planted everything in a nice arrangement and covered the bed with leaves that had fallen from her maple trees to try to build the soil quality a bit. It was essentially a free experiment, so she didn’t have much to lose by letting me try it out. The picture above was taken when it was just planted.
She has done nothing to the spot since then. No watering. No fertilizing. Probably very minimal weeding, if any. She shoved a few garlic cloves in the ground last Fall, actually, so that is the extent of the work back there. And here is what it looks like today! So pretty and easy. I think she has even snipped some herbs here and there to use in cooking. But if nothing else, we took a dead corner of the yard and made it into something beautiful.
this looks great! wow! i must get more clever with my garden design 🙂
Looks awesome!
I remember when you did this – it looks great, and appears to have worked well if your mom hasn’t had to do anything. Well done! I might have to try this with my mum’s garden in Queensland – she seems to travel quite alot and doesn’t want to plant much so she doesn’t have to worry about the garden. Thanks
What a great idea to put an herb garden there!
I work at a rehab center and one of the therapies is horticulture. Your herb garden gave me some ideas for the staff man in charge of it. Chives, rosemary, thyme,oregano, sage. Delicious and nutritious too.
Artemsia, there is lots of info out there on healing gardens – really interesting stuff. Things with texture, like rushes, or scent like lavender are all suppose to be really great. And sound, like a bubbling fountain, can be really soothing as well. Good luck in your work!
I am looking for some perrenial herbs and edibles to grow under a tree. It is shaded but not dark. What would you recommend? I have Mint and Comfrey from last year.
Thanks,
Sofia
Hi Sofia, it depends also on your soil and your zone. That said, some other herbs that do well in shady conditions are chives, parsley and thyme. Your local garden store would probably be able to suggest some good options specific to your region as well!