Fresh Herb Gardens

Culinary Herb Garden

• A culinary herb garden is perfect if you're passionate about cooking. Homegrown herbs give food a flavor that simply cannot be achieved with dried herbs or store-bought seasonings. When growing herbs for culinary purposes, consider the types of foods you normally cook to determine which herbs are best for your needs. If you don't stick to one type of cuisine, choose versatile herbs such as sage, thyme, parsley, chives, dill, basil and oregano. All of these herbs can be used for foods like hearty casseroles, light soups or pasta dishes.

Aromatic Herb Garden

• You might choose to grow herbs simply for the fresh smell they produce. Some strong, pleasant herbs include lavender, rosemary, marjoram, many types of basil and almost any type of mint. Aromatic herb gardens are perfect for planting next to the front door or porch, as they provide an instant calming effect when walking inside. A miniature garden can be set up indoors in a sunny window using a wide planting box. All aromatic herbs can be brought in and dried once the temperatures begin to drop in fall. Cut the herbs at the base of their stems and hang the herbs upside down from a ceiling until they dry. Drying herbs in a closet can give clothes a fresh smell.

Medicinal Herb Garden

• If you're interested in living a completely natural life, try growing a medicinal herb garden. While the effectiveness of herbs as medicine may be up for debate, many people swear by these natural alternatives. Some safe, common medicinal herbs include lemon balm, catnip, chamomile and skullcap. In most cases, these herbs are dried and used to make tea. Always study the safety of herbs before using them for medicine.

Decorative Herb Garden

• The sole appearance of herbs is sometimes enough to make gardeners want to grow an herb garden. Some herbs look beautiful from start to finish, while others are in their prime once they mature and grow flowers. Sage, anise, catnip, oregano and lavender are all good herbs for a beginning gardener as they require very little maintenance when it comes to grooming or fertilizing.

Planting the Herbs

• Different herbs require different needs in the garden in order to grow as tall and healthy as possible. However, most common herbs can thrive as long as they get four to six hours of sun, loose soil and water each time the soil begins to dry out.