Perennial herbs should be dug up and divided every 2-3 years. Once plants have died to the ground they are easy to clean up by simply cutting back to about 4” (10cm) above the ground. Pruning stimulates tender new growth that will damage easily when the first frosts arrive. Harvest seeds when the flowers start to fade and turn brown, but before the seeds fall from the plant.ĭo not prune plants after September 1st. The general rule for use in cooking is: use twice as much fresh or frozen herb as compared to dried herb. Herbs can be dried or frozen for future use. If planning to preserve the herbs, check foliage for insects or eggs as well. Prepare herb cuttings for use by gently washing and drying the foliage. Harvest herbs in the morning, when the plant oils are at their peak. This keeps the plant’s energy focused on foliage production instead of blooms and seeds.

Unless you are growing an herb specifically for its flowers (such as lavender), or seed production (such as fennel), it is best to remove flower buds as they appear. This keeps the plant healthy and producing new growth for continuous harvesting. It’s best not to prune more than 50% of the foliage at one time. Herbs can be harvested throughout the growing season to be used fresh, dried, or frozen. Pinching the stems off can cause damage to the main plant. Invest in a good, sharp hand pruner or knife for harvesting. Herbs in containers can be fed lightly with a general purpose fertilizer at half the rate suggested on the package directions. As mulch breaks down it supplies nutrients to the plants and improves the overall soil condition at the same time. Apply a 1-2” (3-5cm) layer of mulch or compost annually. Herbs planted in the garden don’t require additional fertilizer. This indicates that the soil is thoroughly wet. Water the entire soil area until water runs out the base of the pot. Apply water at the soil level if possible to avoid wetting the foliage. Plants in containers can dry out quickly, depending on the weather, and may need water more frequently than plants in the garden bed. If the first 2-4” (5-10cm) of soil is dry, it is time to water. To check for soil moisture, use your finger or a small trowel to dig in and examine the soil. Deep watering encourages roots to grow further into the ground resulting in a sturdier plant with more drought tolerance. Thoroughly soaking the ground up to 8” (20 cm) every few days is better than watering a little bit daily. Refer to the plant label to check a plant’s specific requirements. Some plants prefer staying on the dry side, others, like to be consistently moist. Clay soils hold moisture longer than sandy soils, so expect to water more frequently in sandy settings.ĭifferent plants have different water needs. After that, depending on the weather and soil type, watering may be adjusted to every two or three days. New plantings should be watered daily for a couple of weeks. New plantings should be watered daily for a couple of weeks to get them well established.įinish up with a 2” (5cm) layer of mulch such as shredded bark or compost to make the garden look tidy, reduce weeds, and retain soil moisture. The soil covering the planting hole should be even with the surrounding soil, or up to one inch higher than the top of the root ball. Firm the soil down around the plant by hand, tamping with the flat side of a small trowel, or even by pressing down on the soil by foot. Push the soil gently around the roots filling in empty space around the root ball.

This is especially important if the roots are dense and have filled up the container. Grasping the plant at the top of the root ball, use your finger to lightly rake apart the lower roots apart. Rotate the container and continue to tap, loosening the soil until the plant pulls smoothly from the pot.ĭig the hole up to two times larger than the root ball and deep enough that the plant will be at the same level in the ground as the soil level in the container. To remove the plant from the container, gently brace the base of the plant, tip it sideways and tap the outside of the pot to loosen. Position plants so that taller plants are in the center or background of the landscape design and shorter plants in the foreground. Organic ingredients improve drainage, add nutrients, and encourage earthworms and other organisms that help keep soil healthy.Ĭheck the plant label for suggested spacing and the mature height of the plant. Add organic matter such as manure, peat moss or garden compost until the soil is loose and easy to work. Prepare the garden by breaking up the existing soil (use a hoe, spade, or power tiller) to a depth of 12-16” (30-40cm). Pots can be brought indoors for the winter and placed near a sunny window for a continuous harvest year-round. Perennial herbs can be planted anytime from spring through fall.

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