Herb Gardening Tips and Tricks

Critter-Repellent.com Staff • December 6, 2022

There’s nothing quite like the wonderful aromas of herbs you’ve grown in your space as you can’t get their freshness and good taste from store-bought. With our herb gardening tips, you will be able to grow herbs easily and will never be short of fresh produce to add a burst of flavor to your dishes. 


Whether you’re new to growing plants or a seasoned expert, our herb gardening tips should help you create a wonderful herb garden in your large backyard or a small patio.


Buy Starter Plants

If you are a beginner, starter plants are the way to go. Though growing herbs from seed are inexpensive and you get a greater selection of varieties, seeds require a specific environment for germinating and hardening off before you plant them. You can purchase starter plants for basic culinary herbs like basil, rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley, and English lavender.


There are dozens of different varieties of basil, sage, and other herbs, and they all have subtle differences in taste and appearance. Getting starter plants will cost more, but your chances of success will increase after a season or two.


Don't Use Rich Soil

Don’t spend a ton of money on rich soil, as most herbs aren't picky about their soil. The only requirement is that the soil is well-drained. However, if your soil is heavy (like clay soil, for example), you should amend it to drain better by mixing in some compost or other organic material.


Assess Your Sunlight Situation

You need to know how much sun your plants need (you can get that info from the little markers in their pots or from Google) before you buy seedlings. Most herbs need at least 6 hours of sun per day. Choose a spot in your garden where they will get plenty of light. 

 

To figure out how many hours you get, just keep an eye on the spot where your containers will be and make a note of when direct sunlight begins in the morning and ends in the evening. 


Water Often, But Not Too Much

Herbs are delicate critters and need a little more babysitting than most houseplants. To check, poke your finger into the pot, and if the dirt is dry an inch below the surface, it's time to water. That said, you don't want to drown the plants, so just water until the soil is damp all the way through, not soaking wet. 


Be Prepared For Pests

It would be great if we lived in a world where we could plant our herbs, vegetables, and fruits each year without worrying that we wouldn’t get to enjoy the harvest. Pests make their way in from time to time (and who can blame them? The food we grow is delicious). Bugs may eat away at the leaves, roots or blooms, leaving you with a lifeless garden and unusable herbs. Try fully organic and non-toxic Critter-Repellent to curb huge infestations in your herb garden and enjoy your plants and the hard work you put into them.

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