Using Herbs in Your Landscape
Herbs in your landscape provide many benefits to your garden, including aesthetic appeal, pesticide control, and nutritional support. Choose the right herbs for your soil, climate, and desired effects, and you'll be enjoying their benefits for years to come.
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Using Herbs in Your Landscape
As you are creating your edible landscape, you will likely be interested in including herbs. Many people are aware of the versatility of herbs, and the many uses there are for them in every kitchen.
You may already be familiar with growing herbs and even if not, growing herbs is something you will want to strongly consider.
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What Herbs Are Your Favorites?
Even if you don't consider yourself to be an accomplished chef, you are sure to have experienced some tastes that appeal to you, and that you wish to cook with.
If you are not familiar with many, go to the grocery store and pick up a few varieties in order to decide what would be worth your while attempting to grow.
What Do Herbs Go Well With?
When cooking, most dishes call for at least a few herbs. Even some baking includes herbs for a delightful twist on a common taste.
Oregano, basil, and thyme go well with chicken and give a delicious flavor to rice dishes and pasta.
Mint is a versatile herb, goes well with both savory and sweet dishes, and is easy to grow. You can use it as a topping for ice cream, or freeze one leaf per cube with water to make a great-looking and slightly minty ice cube.
Chives are delicious chopped over baked potatoes or sprinkled into salads and can be easily cut fresh each time you are ready to use them.
What Herbs Grow Well in Your Climate?
It is wise to check with your local garden center or online in regards to what herbs grow best in your area. Some herbs are suited to warm climates, and others can be grown in cooler weather.
Parsley, for example, will grow as a perennial plant and can be enjoyed year after year, even when there is a harsh winter interrupting its growth.
Where Will You Grow Them?
Since you are growing your herbs in your edible landscape design, you will want to decide where the best spot for them will be.
Perhaps you will use some of them as a luscious way to cover a large area of ground.
Or maybe you want to strategically place insect-repelling herbs such as lemon balm and basil in an area where people will be spending a lot of time.
Decide your purpose for the plant, and what it will look like when placed in a particular area. This will give you a good idea of where to place it.
What Vegetables and Fruits Will They Complement?
Since you will be growing other edibles in your landscape, think about what herbs will complement them when you are cooking or baking.
You may want the fresh mint to put into the fruit salad you will make with your fresh berries and apples. Or you might want to grow some rosemary to sprinkle on the pizzas made with your fresh-grown tomatoes.
Edible landscaping opens up a world of flavor. You don’t need to be a world-renowned chef to enjoy the wonderful tastes of each herb you grow. Choose at least a few varieties to add to your landscaping efforts, and you will never cook a bland-tasting meal again.
Herbs in your landscape provide many benefits to your garden. Choose the right herbs and you'll be enjoying their benefits for years to come.
More Landscaping on Your Homestead
7 Reasons to Grow Edible Landscape Plants
Planning Your Edible Landscape
Edible Landscape Planting and Maintenance
