How to Arrange a Knot-Shaped Herb Garden.

Knot gardens form interwoven patterns when viewed from a distance.

The knot garden's "roots" are in the Renaissance era. During that period, gardeners planted herbs and hedges so that when viewed from a distance they appeared as a knotted rope or ribbon. Gardeners typically grow knot herb gardens using hedge-like plants that they keep tightly sheared to maintain their formal appearance. You must select, arrange and put in the plants in a knot garden so that the knot forms a precise pattern.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Graph paper
• Tape measure
• 20 stakes
• Rototiller
• Compost
• String
• Shovel

Instructions

1. Design the pattern of the knot garden prior to planting. Knot gardens are typically square with a geometric pattern within them that comprises overlapping squares, circles or diamonds. Ideally, these patterns are symmetrical in the tradition of Renaissance patterns. After you have devised a knot pattern that you like, mark the dimensions on graph paper so that the garden is five squares wide by five squares deep. Draw the pattern on graph paper so that the garden fits within the marked squares.

2. Select plants for your knot garden based on their color and size. Dwarf shrubs or herbs with low-growing habits are ideal for knot gardens. Some examples of these small plants include lamb's ear, rosemary, lavender, dwarf boxwood, Japanese yew, hyssop, cat mint or germander. In addition, select a variety of plants to create different-colored ribbons in your knot. For example, use rosemary and lavender to create the appearance of silver and green ribbons weaving in and out of the shrubs.

3. Measure your garden and hammer a stake into each corner to mark the dimensions. A good size for a knot garden is a 25-foot square. Place stakes along each side of the square at 4-foot intervals.

4. Break up the soil of the garden to a depth of 12 inches using a rototiller. Dig compost into the soil to create fluffy, organic soil in which herbs will thrive.

5. Tie string in between each stake and the stake directly across from it to create a grid pattern. This grid pattern should exactly match the 5-by-5 square garden that you drew on your graph paper.

6. Plant the herbs and shrubs so that they align in the garden grid with their corresponding lines on the graph paper. After you finish, remove the stakes and the string.

References

• University of Minnesota Extension: Knot Gardens; Mary Laine et. al
• Designing Edible Gardens: Pattern Making With Herb Garden Design
• Mississippi State University Extension: Herb Gardens for Mississippi; Robert F. Brzuszek; October 14, 2010

Resources

• "The Old Farmer's Almanac"; Knot Gardens; Louise Kehoe; 2010