Herb Garden Maintenance

Water Needs

• Water requirements depend on the type of herb, but most grow best in soil that maintains an even moisture content. Shallow watering causes weak roots since the root system only develops in the moist surface area in the garden bed. Once-weekly deep watering that moistens the top 6 inches of the soil encourages plants to form deep roots and makes herbs more resistant to environmental stresses.

Fertilization

• Herbs usually thrive without heavy fertilization. A high level of soil nutrition may inhibit the ability of herbs to produce the aromatic oils that give the plants their flavor. Fertilizer needs vary depending on the type of herb, but a light annual application in spring of a balanced fertilizer suffices for most plants. Beds with a high organic matter content may need no additional fertilizers to produce healthy and flavorful plants.

Weeds and Pests

• Weeds can choke out your herb plants by robbing moisture and soil nutrients from herbs. Weeding the bed regularly prevents weeds from establishing in your bed. Mulching the herb bed suppresses weed growth by blocking light to the seeds and plants which prevents successful germination. A layer of mulch also helps retain moisture in the soil. Wet plant foliage is more prone to fungal problems. Watering early in the day ensures any moisture on the foliage evaporates rapidly, which helps prevent fungus problems.

Pruning and Harvesting

• Foliage-producing herbs, like basil, benefit from light pruning at midseason. Cutting back the overgrown stems encourages a fresh flush of compact growth. Harvesting depends on the part of the herb used. Foliage herbs withstand harvesting as soon as they produce enough leaves to tolerate the removal of some. Those grown for their edible flowers or seeds are harvested once these plant parts develop. It's better to cut off the part you wish to use with shears and pulling or plucking off foliage can damage the plant.

Winterizing Perennial Herbs

• Perennial herbs require some root protection in the winter months to protect them from freeze damage. Thaw and freeze cycles in winter cause the ground to shift, which can uproot or break the roots of the herbs. Spreading a thick layer of straw mulch over the bed once the soil begins to freeze insulates the soil and roots, protecting the plants from heave and frost damage.