Growing herbs is not only fun; it’s also some of the easiest plants to grow. If you’re new to gardening, you can buy an herb garden kit, so you have all the materials you’ll need to build an herb garden. Now, if you’re thinking about using landscape fabric, weed control becomes infinitely easier.
Thinking of using landscape fabric to build an herb garden? How do you incorporate the fabric into a raised bed? More importantly, does the material improve your garden’s health? We’ve got some ideas for you in this guide.
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How do you keep an herb garden healthy?
Sunlight: The most crucial factor to consider when growing most kinds of herbs is sunlight exposure. Herbs do not grow too big so that they can be grown indoors and outdoors. However, the area where you will build the garden must receive at least 6 hours of sunlight daily with some shade in the afternoon. Many herbs require about 8 hours of continuous sunlight exposure so if you’re using an herb kit, check the sunlight requirement of every herb and plant according to the instructions.
Water: The water requirements will vary – herbs like sage, thyme, mint, basil, and oregano need regular watering, while rosemary, lavender, and lemon verbena do not require frequent watering at all. You want to avoid standing water because virtually all herbs hate excess moisture.
Standing water can lead to root rot, which will cause pests and diseases to spread all over the garden. A good rule of thumb is to water only when the soil feels dry to the touch but never wait too long before the leaves start to wilt. Also, water frequently at the height of the summer season, preferably in the early morning, so that the water won’t evaporate during mid-mornings.
Soil: Herbs love well-draining and fluffy soils like potting mix and soil mixed with peat moss and organic fertilizers. If you’re growing herbs in a raised garden bed, don’t use regular garden soil because it’s too heavy and retains excessive moisture that can lead to root rot.
Amending the soil regularly is not recommended because too many nutrients could cause health issues. Amend the soil only when needed, and ideally, use organic fertilizers because herbs are often eaten fresh or uncooked.
Growing space: While most herbs do not grow too big, they still need room to grow. That’s why measuring the space you’ll transform into an herb garden is essential to ensure that each herb has growing room. Herbs require 1 to 4 feet in diameter of space. Rosemary, sage, mint, oregano, tarragon, basil, thyme, cilantro, chives, dill, and parsley require 3 to 4 feet of growing space.
You can save space in the garden by planting herbs together with other crops in a big pot or a raised garden bed. Annuals like basil and dill can be planted together with different vegetables, like chives, asparagus, sweet and chili peppers, and tomatoes, to name a few.
Weed control: Invasive plants like weeds will steal nutrients from the soil and affect the health of your precious crops. Also, weeds multiply quickly, leaving crops little room for growth. Installing landscape fabric helps protect plants from weeds while making weeding easy on the back, knees, and arms.
How to Start an Outdoor Herb Garden
Starting an outdoor herb garden is easy because most herbs are vigorous growers. And if you’re using an herb kit, you’ll find it surprisingly easy to grow fresh herbs from seeds. Here is a step-by-step guide to building an outdoor herb garden in a raised bed:
Materials for an Herb Garden
Step 1: Choose the space
Using a raised bed is an excellent idea if you want to maximize a small outdoor space, create an organized herb garden, or achieve a certain aesthetic. The area should have ample sunlight and be near a water source for easy gardening.
It’s important to check the space where you will put the raised garden bed to ensure it fits the area. Measure the space and use the measurements to find the perfect dimensions for a raised bed. The raised bed should be sized just right to be accessible from either side when gardening.
Step 2: Choose the herbs
What kinds of herbs should you plant? Since you’re growing herbs in a raised bed, choosing herbs that complement each other is vital to avoid issues like dull flavors or competition for space and nutrients. Using an herb kit like the ECOgardener herb kit takes the guesswork out of choosing which herbs are best-grown side by side. As long as the herbs have enough room to grow + ample sunlight exposure, growing fresh, premium herbs will be a breeze.
Step 3: Install the landscape fabric
You can install the landscape fabric at the bottom of an empty raised bed as a liner and on top of filled landscape fabric to control weed growth. Here’s a step-by-step guide on installing landscape fabric.
As a raised bed liner, landscape fabric prevents soil erosion while improving the soil’s ability to hold water. This is an excellent solution if you’re using loose, sandy soil.
Landscape fabric inhibits weed growth while insulating the plant roots when installed on top of a filled raised bed. Secure the landscape fabric with staples to set it in place. Do not skimp on the landscape fabric staples because this will affect the performance and life of the material. Finishing up with a layer of mulch on top of the landscape fabric will improve the look of your outdoor space.
Step 4: Plant the seeds and grow the herbs
You can either plant the seeds directly into the soil or in a tray and then transplant the seedlings into the raised bed. Whichever way you plant the herbs, cut holes into the landscape fabric for each seedling. Use a utility knife or heavy-duty scissors to cut a hole or slit for every seedling. The hole should be big enough to grow with the plant.
Where to buy herb gardening supplies and materials?
You can get all the materials mentioned above at your local gardening supplies store. You can shop for each material online or choose ECOgardener bundles for easy breezy gardening. We have different bundles to choose from:
- Landscape fabric and heavy-duty staple bundle: 3″ x50″ weed barrier landscape fabric with your choice of 8 or 11 gauge staples.
- Raised garden bed bundles: your choice of raised garden bed design + herb kit, landscape fabric, and heavy-duty staples.
Installing landscape fabric in an herb garden may be an added step, but your hard work will be worth it with all the rewards you get from it. Landscape fabric prevents soil erosion while protecting your precious crops from weeds. Installed on a raised bed, landscape fabric makes gardening even easier, which is great news for beginners and people with mobility problems.
Getting the bundles will save you more money and effort because all the materials you need are included in the set. Shop the bundles here and transform your outdoor space into an herb garden!
