Formal
Herb garden designs are the perfect place to add color and fragrance to your garden. They can be made with flowers or herbs, and they can include a healing element, as well as a functional design. When designing a herb garden, consider the ecological needs of the area. It can be a simple jumble of herbs and flowers or an elaborate design, complete with pathways and edgings.
The best formal garden designs are usually geometrical, and use straight lines and low hedges. In addition, they generally contain clipped edgings. Some of the more common types of edgings include stone, gravel, or a wooden board. For a more formal look, a wagon wheel can be constructed using stones for the spokes. Another popular form is a knot garden, which interweaves herbs with contrasting leaf colors and textures.
Informal herb gardens are less formal, but can be just as beautiful. The informal design is often a simple overlapping square, and can be made with mulch, gravel, or annual herbs. If you’re looking for something more complex, consider a layout that mimics a knot garden. You can also create an island bed, which is a free-form design that is laid out like a miniature lawn.
A kitchen garden is another great idea. This is a small, enclosed space that contains many of the culinary herbs you most commonly use. These herbs include savory, rosemary, parsley, basil, mint, thyme, and lemon verbena. Most of these plants are relatively easy to grow, and they make a pleasant and fragrant addition to any dining room table.
Adding a bit of ornamentation can make a garden more enjoyable. Formal and informal herb garden designs can include a fountain, birdbath, bench, or other special feature. Vintage chimney pots can make a charming show. Old pails, windowsill boxes, and cracked teapots are other great choices for your new herb garden.
To create an informal herb garden, you’ll want to plan out the layout of the garden and have a clear vision of what you want to accomplish. Once you’ve decided on a plan, you’ll need to select herbs. Make a list of all your favorite herbs and then divide them into perennials and annuals. Each category requires different levels of care and maintenance. An annual requires less time and resources, while a perennial takes longer to germinate.
If you’re not yet ready to invest the time and money needed to create a formal herb garden, you can start with an informal version. These simple designs will allow you to have a garden that’s a beautiful combination of herbs, flowers, and vegetables. As long as you follow basic garden design rules, you’ll be on your way to creating an appealing and fun herb garden.
Besides dividing your herb garden into useful and ornamental plants, you’ll also need to decide on the overall size of the garden. Formal herb garden designs usually include a number of beds, whereas informal ones are often laid out in a single container or on an island. Both designs use a mixture of flowers and herbs, but you should choose plants that fit your home’s architecture.
