Basic Tips for Planting
a Herb Garden

Herb gardening has become a popular way to obtain herbs. Fresh herbs are better for cooking, and it is less expensive to grow your own herbs than it is to go out and buy them. But having a great herb garden means allowing herbs to grow in an environment similar to that in which they would be found naturally.

Soil for Your Herb Garden

The soil for your herb garden needs to include a large portion of organic matter in order for your plants to thrive. Sand, silt and clay should make up the remainder of the soil content. It is also of utmost importance that the soil has a pH conducive to herbal growth.

The ideal pH for an herb garden's soil is 6.5, which is slightly acidic. You can find a garden pH testing kit online or in the gardening departments of many hardware stores. A good testing kit is well worth the money paid for it, because it will give more accurate results than an inexpensive one.

It is also important to make sure that your soil's composition is good. If it has too much sand in it, your herbs won't get the nutrients they need. Too much clay will keep the soil from draining properly and may inhibit root growth.