Herbs in the Garden
Episode:#11 11/11/06
Presenter: Kim Syrus
We often see herbs planted in pots or maybe in their own special area, but the hardy perennials are some of the toughest plants going around and are ideally suited for mixing in with other garden plants. Kim takes a look at a few herbs that will add some interest and a new flavour to your yard.
With a backdrop of Powton trees, the garden Kim visits in Aldinga relies only on natural rainfall to retain colour, interest and importantly thriving plants. Herbs were included amongst the other tough plants like Lavender, Salvia and Roses to create a great garden effect.
You might notice many herbs have small tight leaves, not only are these filled with aromatic oils and brilliant flavours, they also have a reduced surface area and this helps them retain valuable moisture making them incredibly hardy and waterwise
If you are looking for a low spreading ground cover then thyme (Thymus sp.) is as tough as they come. Give it a hard cut back to keep it in shape. A super tough grower, it will thrive in even the poorest soils.
Parsley is the most popular herb. Used in a huge range of dishes, it is so easy to grow and, once planted, it quickly establishes itself in your garden.
Whether it is the common curly leaf variety (Petroselinium crispum) or maybe the flat leaved Italian Parsley (Petroselinum neapolitanum) it can thrive anywhere from full sun right through to complete shade.
The lighter colour of Golden Oregano (Origanum vulgare 'Aureum') will contrast brilliantly against the grey and green foliage of most other plants. Growing up to 30cm high, it makes a great fragrant spreading border.
Not all herbs are low growing. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is one of the hardiest hedging plants around; easy to grow and super easy to maintain. A light trim is all it takes to keep this hedge in great shape. Rosemary is very forgiving, even when cut back hard, it will quickly re-shoot and cover over.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is a hardy perennial that carries a fresh citrus smell in each leaf. Growing over half a metre high, it can become invasive and leggy if not kept trimmed back. Look closely and you will notice that the stems are square; a reminder that Lemon balm is a relative of the mint family.
Adding Herbs to your garden bed can really spice up the yard. By mixing these in with your other plants, you can now harvest both food and flowers at the same time.
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