How to Grow Herbs Outdoors in Texas

Choose a gardening space that gets at least six hours of full sunlight per day, as recommended by the National Gardening Association. Also consider choosing a garden location that is easily accessible from the home kitchen, to make it easy to run outside and pick some herbs while cooking.

Prepare the soil for planting by adding in some organic compost. According to the National Gardening Association and Texas A&M University, herbs prefer rich soil. Compost is a great addition to soil before planting, because it improves the texture of soil while adding nutrients that will slowly release over time. Mix some compost into the planting area using a tiller or garden fork, as recommended by the National Gardening Association.

Plant the herbs by digging planting holes so that the herbs will be as deep in the ground as they are in their starter pots.

Water the herbs immediately after planting to help the soil settle and give moisture to the plants.

Apply a layer of mulch over the surface of the soil around the base of the plants, as recommended by the South Texas Unit of the Herb Society of America. Mulch helps hold moisture in the soil during hot and dry Texas weather, and it also keeps weeds from sprouting up and competing with the herbs for soil nutrients and moisture.

Water the herbs regularly. According to the National Gardening Association, most herbs grow well with about 1 inch of water per week. Herbs in raised garden beds with tons of drainage or herbs in very hot and dry Texas weather may require more than 1 inch of water per week.

Fertilize the herbs lightly with a balanced fertilizer, as recommended by Texas A&M University. The National Gardening Association warns that too much fertilizer results in blander herbs. Since the soil already got some nutrients during the pre-planting compost application, just apply fertilizer once according to its packaging instructions in mid-summer, as recommended by Ohio State University.