Perennial Tea Herb Garden For Wet Soils and Better Winter Drainage

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 lavender in sunny locations with well-drained soil.

As with its cool-season herb cousins thyme and sage, lavender thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and requires minimal care once established. Once planted it remains easy to care for with limited maintenance needed; drought conditions don’t bother it too much either if amended with sand or pebbles or planted on raised beds with slopes to facilitate drainage; organic mulches should not be applied over it as these would hold in moisture too long.

Collect herb leaves and buds for use fresh or dried for cooking and tea use. To dry herbs, rinse gently, hang in bundles to air dry or place in an inconspicuous, dark area without direct sunlight; some varieties may require freezing or dehydration as well – please check their labels for specific instructions.

Rosemary

Herbs are easy-to-grow plants, but require well-draining soil. Select a sunny or partially shaded location depending on the variety. Some aggressive spreaders like mint and tarragon may thrive better when planted in containers or raised beds.

Evergreen rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) adds fragrance, form, and winter interest to frost-free gardens. Growing to shrub-like proportions, evergreen rosemary creates fragrant privacy screens, walkway framings, architectural structures in the landscape as it frames walks or borders pathways. Pairing well with broadleaf evergreens, berrying shrubs, silver Mediterranean favorites in mixed plantings is ideal.

Rosemary can be propagated through seeds, seedlings or cuttings taken any time of year with healthy tip growth. Indoor seeds should be started 6-8 weeks prior to the last frost date and transplanted outdoors in spring; for cuttings root in late winter or early spring before potted up using light misted, well-draining potting mix; use high quality balanced timed-release fertilizer in order to promote flavorful flowers with aromatic oils instead.

Mint

Mint is a versatile herb, growing easily both in containers or the ground, that can help relieve digestive issues like indigestion, bloating and stomach upset. It also soothes headaches and runsny noses. But due to its vigorous growth habit and potential invasion of space, plant it only in its own container or raised bed.

Raised beds provide several distinct advantages when planting herbs compared to in-ground gardens. You’ll avoid dealing with poor native soil (clay-heavy, rocky or too sandy), while having greater control over your garden soil mix from day one. Herbs require light feedings that need well-prepared garden soil or growing media such as peat moss vermiculite and perlite for maximum results.

Protect herbs in winter by covering them with at least four inches of mulch that’s 4 inches deep – evergreen boughs, straw and oak leaves are good options – before taking it away as temperatures warm up in spring when new growth emerges. Also protect them from winter winds that could blow over their roots and deplete surrounding soil moisture sources.

Thyme

Many herbs reproduce asexually through cuttings taken during late spring or summer, such as thyme, winter savory, sage and tarragon. Layering may also work for perennial plants with flexible branches.

Perennial plants that come back every year, like thyme and mother-of-thyme (Thymus serpyllum), need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day in a full sun location. Their best conditions for growth include dry soil with regular drainage that doesn’t remain soggy for too long, plus organic matter to enrich its nutritional profile.

Herb gardens thrive in sunny locations, whether that’s in a garden bed or container on a patio, balcony, or windowsill. When planting directly into the soil, amend with plenty of organic matter and improve drainage to avoid root rot; when using containers opt for high-quality potting mix with reduced water requirements and ensure good plant health; group herbs that enjoy similar growing conditions together (i.e. moisture-lovers or alkaline soil types) for easy care and group them accordingly.