People have grown herbs for their culinary and healing properties for centuries. Today, herbs are as popular as ever!
Whether you want to grow a kitchen herb garden or just for healthier eating, there are countless herbs you can grow in your backyard. Fresh herbs make recipes taste even better and are great to have around for soups, salads, and stews.
Are you thinking of growing a herb garden? Why not learn how to make this DIY spiral herb garden!
What is a spiral herb garden?
It is a bed design perfect for planting herbs or plants that have various growing conditions. Those that prefer a dry environment could be put on top of the spiral while those who need moisture would go to the bottom. Strategically positioning your plants depending on cardinal direction would also maximize the benefits of this herb garden. If a certain plant prefers minimal sun exposure, then you could put it on the north side where there’s less sunlight.
A spiral herb garden is an amazing and valuable solution for gardeners living in cities. It is a very effective and energy-saving vertical planting structure. Plants can be piled up vertically as well as horizontally to make the most of your yard. The most elevated part of the spiral is in the middle. You can plant all your everyday culinary herbs on the spiral rise since it can accommodate a big planting space.
This is also a good garden bed design if you have a relatively small outdoor space. Here you can grow more plants without taking additional area.
What plants would you put in your spiral herb garden?
Make sure to properly organize the spiral herb garden, in a way that the high-growing plants will be placed at the back. Tall plants will create block the sunlight for the smaller plants if they are located in the lower part of the spiral herb garden. Keep in mind, that some herbs are invasive and can spread in a wide range. These types of herbs are better grown in a hollow pot or pail with no base.
The top portion of the spiral herb garden is dry, so we prefer to plant Mediterranean herbs here, like:
The centre of the spiral herb garden is full of moisture and needs sun, we can plant here the following:
The bottom part of the spiral herb garden is full of shade with steady moisture, we can plant here the following:
What are the materials needed to create a spiral herb garden?
Spiral herb gardens can be placed in the common garden, balcony, or at the rooftop garden. in a place where there is sunlight, but if you’re in a tropical country, select a spot where there is shade in the afternoon. The following materials are needed to create this project.
Materials:
- Hose
- Cardboard
- Pavers, Bricks, Cedar Chips, and various Stones of your choice
- Soil
- Plants of your choice
Tools:
- Shovel
How to create a spiral herb garden?
- Gather the materials and select a place where there is enough sunlight during the day and shade in the afternoon.
- Layout the spiral pattern with the use of a garden hose (or anything similar).
- Remove the grass around the spiral and save the sod.
- In the spiral area, place a piece of cardboard on top of the grass to let it die. To create volume, overlay the clumps of sod upside-down on the cardboard.
- Put a landscape fabric around the spiral and define the area with bricks.
- Add soil and use cedar chips or white stones to fill the surroundings.
- In springtime, add more soil and elevate the spiral herb garden a foot high.
- Move the plants and reseed the rest.
- You can add bedding plants and flowers to create a beautiful design for your spiral herb garden.
Thanks to Gardening GRRL for this great project. You can get step-by-step instructions here…
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