Spiral Herb Gardens

Warm-climate herbs like rosemary grow best in the top of a spiral herb garden.

Herb spiral gardens are herb gardens fortified with brick or stone pavers to create a pyramid shape. Growing herbs in this spiral shape has several benefits for both the health of the herbs and garden landscaping. Many types of popular herbs may be grown in an herb spiral. Key to herb garden success is its placement, to ensure that the light conditions are ideal for growing herbs.

Growth Benefits

Building a spiral, pyramid-like herb garden is a good way to save space in a small garden, according to the No Dig Vegetable Garden's website. Typical spiral gardens are about 2 to 3 feet wide and 6 feet long. Different types of herbs require different growing conditions, and the spiral garden creates micro-climates, allowing gardeners to plant various types of herbs in a single place. The top of the spiral supports herbs that thrive in sunny, warm conditions, while the middle and bottom of the spiral are adapted for cooler-climate herbs.

Growing Conditions

Location is the key to providing the proper growing conditions for a spiral herb garden. According to the Herb Spiral website, a spiral garden requires at least five hours of full sun a day. Spiral gardens should provide adequate drainage to keep plants healthy and happy. Additionally, organic composted soil provides necessary nutrients. Herbs are rarely bothered by pests and rarely require chemical fertilizers when planted in nutrient-rich soil.

Building Tips

Create a spiral herb garden at home by choosing a spot in the yard with lots of light and good drainage, according to the Gardener's Rake website. Areas that collect standing water are not ideal for growing herbs. Herb gardens grow best in a "soil sandwich" beginning with seven layers of newspaper soaked with water, followed by 8 inches of straw or leaves, topped with 6 inches of compost. Newspaper helps prevent grass from invading the garden. Flat rock, bricks, stone pavers, even old wooden boards make suitable edging for the spiral build. Build up the edging into a spiral shape, filling it in with compost along the way.

Care Tips

Herbs are fairly easy to grow and require little maintenance when planted in the ideal conditions. Placing a series of plastic containers in the center of the spiral may help prevent the center from drying out, according to the Gardening Australia website. Arrange them so they gradually get smaller in size as you move down the spiral. The pans collect rainwater, which spills over from one pan to the next to form an internal water source. Plant warmer-climate herbs at the top of the spiral, facing the southern sun, to provide the plants with adequate light and warmth.

Recommended Herbs

The No Dig Vegetable Garden suggests planting Mediterranean-style herbs at the top of the herb garden. Rosemary, thyme and sage generally thrive in the warmest sections of the spiral. In the middle of the garden, plant herbs such as chives, shallots, Italian parsley, tarragon and coriander. The bottom of the garden is the coolest section of the spiral. Cooler-climate herbs, such as borage, peppermint, pennywort and lemon balm, generally grow well in the bottom.

References

• The Herb Spiral: The Many Uses of Herbs
• Gardening Australia: Fact Sheet: Herb Spiral
• No Dig Vegetable Garden: Growing Herbs
• The Gardener's Rake: Herb Gardening, Plant a Spiral Herb Garden