Essential Herb Garden

Culinary Herbs

• No herb garden would be complete without some basic culinary herbs. Fresh herbs provide flavor and complexity to many dishes and are distinct from their dried counterparts. You can grow pots of common cooking herbs on your kitchen windowsill. Some essential favorites include parsley, chives, basil, cilantro, oregano and marjoram. Most of these are "perennials," meaning they will continue to produce new growth from year to year. You'll need to replant basil and parsley after they go to seed.

Aromatic Herbs

• Almost all herbs are aromatic by nature because of their high essential oil content, but many gardeners favor certain plants for their sweet or pungent scents. You can use fresh or dried leaves and flowers to scent linens and to make perfumes, cosmetics and natural air fresheners. These herbs retain their scent for a long time after drying, and they are often combined with spices in potpourris. Aromatic favorites to include in your herb garden are lavender, rosemary, lovage and the mints.

Ornamental Herbs

• Plants with brightly colored flowers and foliage add interest in the garden, and they attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Many gardeners chose ornamental herbs to fulfill a specific color theme, such as santolina, silver thyme and lamb's ears for their silver foliage, or bee balm for its crimson flowers. Other commonly planted ornamental herbs are Mexican sage, yellow yarrow, catmint and purple coneflower.

Medicinal Herbs

• Herbs have been used throughout history to treat ailments, and many modern medicines are based on plants. Most of these herbs also have aromatic and/or ornamental qualities. Medicinal herbs that are easy to grow include lemon balm for its calming and digestive properties, yarrow to stop bleeding and stimulate digestion, German chamomile to aid in sleep, and calendula for the skin-soothing action of its flowers. Other herbs are grown for their medicinal qualities, but you should consult a trained herbalist or medical practitioner before consuming herbs for medicine.

Growing Tips

• Most herbs prefer well-drained soil. Too much water or fertilizer dilutes the flavor and aroma of the plants. Potted herbs need to be watered more often, while herbs growing in garden beds are happy to be watered deeply about once per week. Prune spent flowers to promote a longer blooming period, and after a plant has flowered, cut it back. The mints and many other herbs spread quickly and need to be divided often. You can cut and use fresh leaves and flowers during the entire growing season.