An efficiently maintained tea garden offers both financial savings and premium beverages. Plants such as chives provide long harvests of mildly oniony stems and flowers, while Tansy and Sweet Cicely boast distinct licorice aromas. Perennial herbs benefit from being divided periodically to maintain and expand your patch. Each herb requires different care, but in general you’ll remove aboveground growth while manipulating roots with either your hands or clippers to revitalize them and make more space available in your patch. Chives Perennial herbs such as chives (Allium schoenoprasum) and garlic chives (Allium schoenoprasum), which thrive in full sun to partial shade …

Deer are notoriously destructive when it comes to gardens, but fortunately there are certain plants they simply won’t eat. Scent-rich aromatic herbs and flowers such as lavender, sage, oregano, rosemary, thyme and French tarragon deter deer from approaching. Other simple barriers include juniper bushes and chives as effective barriers. Sage Sage is an essential ingredient in Thanksgiving stuffing and many savory recipes, boasting loads of essential vitamins and minerals. Sage plants with their silvery-gray leaves and aromatic scent can deter deer by disorienting their sense of smell, keeping them away. Their flowers provide beautiful summer color in any garden while …

Tea herbs grow well together and can be harvested easily, while many also attract pollinators, support healthy living and taste great either fresh or dried! Make sure the site you select offers good drainage; perennial plants like chamomile, mint and lemon balm tend to grow quickly in gardens, needing regular pruning. Be wary of mint’s tendency to spread; plant it separately either in a pot or garden bed! Chamomile Chamomile flowers make for an enjoyable teatime ritual that can ease aches and pains while also soothing insomnia and anxiety. These delicate plants thrive in warmer climates and spread freely by …

Herbs add flavor and fragrance to dishes, teas, beverages and landscaping plants alike. Herbs make excellent additions for adding an exotic flair. Water needs vary among herbs. Herbs should remain evenly moist without becoming waterlogged. Hardy perennials may be left in their gardens to overwinter (with the exception of rosemary and lemon verbena), while tender selections must be brought indoors to provide winter protection. Lavender Lavender flowers possess a sweet, gentle fragrance that makes it popularly used in making aromatic oils and culinary treats. Additionally, its calming properties have proven effective against insomnia, anxiety and depression. For best results, grow …

Few things can put a pleasant ending or relaxation to one’s day like sipping on a soothing cup of tea. These shade and partial sun perennial herbs are easy to grow in gardens where sunlight exposure is less than six hours daily. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an attractive evergreen ornamental woody shrub full of aromatic essential oils that thrives in sunny spots with good drainage and minimal summer irrigation needs. Care for this versatile species is easy, making them virtually pest-proof. Lemon Balm Lemon balm’s lemony, sunny scent makes it an excellent addition to herbal teas and sachets, while its …

Herbs thrive best in soil that drains freely and offers balanced nutrition, and organic amendments tend to be more beneficial than short-acting liquid feeds or powders in creating healthy soil over the long haul. Use kitchen waste like banana peels, coffee grounds and eggshells to create your own homegrown herb fertilizer. Blood meal is another good source of nitrogen-rich compost material. Compost Compost is the result of biodegradation, an organic material breakdown process in nature which occurs when organic (carbon-rich) materials like leaves, twigs and branches as well as grass clippings are combined with nitrogen-rich green materials such as vegetable …

An herb border designed to encourage pollinators activity adds both beauty and function to any garden. From fragrant sage to delicate lilac spires, these easy-care herbs attract bees and butterflies while adding texture, color, scent and depth to any outdoor landscape. Sun-loving sages and perennial chamomile are hardy perennials that provide spring to midsummer blooms, while shear-thin hebes add vivid hues for shade gardens, while sweet woodruff’s delicate white flowers add delicate elegance in springtime. Planting Season February and March are ideal months to peruse seed catalogs, dream about warm spring days and prepare to plant. Now is a good …

Bee balm (Monarda) is an essential plant for sunny native pollinator gardens. Cultivars such as Jacob Cline produce vibrant red flowers that attract both hummingbirds and butterflies to pollinate your garden. Bee balm plants can be highly susceptible to powdery mildew and rust fungus infections that can defoliate and weaken the plants over time. Preventing such issues by providing sufficient air circulation and by thinnng large patches periodically. Natural Pest and Powdery Mildew Prevention Bee balm (Monarda didyma) is an attractive perennial that attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to its vibrant flowers – as well as being used for medicinal …

Many herbs thrive in sunny beds with well-draining soil, adding compost or organic matter to loosen and improve it. Annual herb plants require regular watering during their growing season, light pruning and ongoing fertilisation throughout the year to foster substantial growth. A liquid feed product such as Powerfeed should be applied weekly in order to ensure strong and productive plants. Watering Herbs tend to be less finicky about soil conditions than vegetables, yet still require a well-draining, fertile site with good drainage and regular watering – best to water first thing each morning to reduce evaporation and encourage stronger root …

Fresh rosemary brings bold pine-like flavor to any meal, providing the finishing touch to an otherwise simple preparation. This hardy perennial needs at least six hours of sunlight daily in sandy soil with excellent drainage for best results. Renew nutrients in your soil with organic matter through spring mulching, protecting tender herbs from winter winds with cloches or row covers. Rosemary Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an evergreen woody herb with needle-like leaves in various shades of gray-green to dark green, plus white, pink or light blue flowers that bloom between spring and fall. Winter survival may vary widely across states; …

After the first frost, many herbs can benefit from an insulating layer of mulch such as compost, bark chips or pine needles to maintain warm and moist conditions. A 3-4″ layer will keep soil warm while also adding vitality and nutrition. Most tea herbs can be planted together, although plants requiring lots of water should not be placed in the same container with those preferring drier soil. Mint grows rapidly and should be grown separately or near its edges to prevent it from taking over an herb garden. Chamomile Chamomile is an herb with a gentle fragrance that makes a …

Planting herbs that make good tea is among the easiest tasks, including Chamaemelum nobile (Chamomile), Lemon Verbena, Licorice Mint and Lavender as well as Common Thyme – but be wary of aggressive spreaders like Mints or Bee Balm which may quickly take over! Spotted beebalm, native to eastern United States and popular among pollinators such as bees, is an easy perennial herb to cultivate from seed in full sun areas with dry soil for best results. Growing this perennial is simple with minimal care required and will produce great results! Plant in Containers Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is an evergreen …

Growing herbs is both rewarding and economical! It offers endless gardening possibilities! Take stem cuttings from healthy plants using sharp, disinfected tools. Dipped the lower end into rooting powder, solution or gel for best results to promote root formation. Some shrubs and trees, such as figs, mulberries, quince and various fruiting herbs can be propagated via simple layering techniques. Taking Cuttings Cuttings are an efficient and straightforward method of propagating perennial herbs. Simply select healthy, disease-free stems, cut just below a leaf node, remove any leaves from the lower portion of the stem and dip its end in rooting hormone …

Gardeners can create a tea garden to harvest leaves, stems and flowers for herbal infusions that refresh. Herbs are easy to cultivate and provide endless rewards when used properly. Some perennial herbs are hardy while others, like tender annuals, don’t fare so well in winter weather in most climates. To protect these tender annuals, as frost approaches they must be moved into a protected spot to remain alive. First Spring Growth Sweet Cicely (Umbellifera sativa) adds an aromatic licorice taste to tea and is said to ease feminine issues. Although hardy perennial, in colder regions it must be grown as …