Your Questions About Gardening

GardenersCardiff answers:

Hi Sharon Salt,

This is Ricks Picks. I work in the Garden Department for The Home Depot. Thank you for your question about planting an herb garden. The “How to” part depends on where you are planning to put your garden, inside or outside. If you are in an area that freezes, then you will need to plant your herb garden inside in the brightest part of the house. The southern exposure is usually the brightest spot and is recommended for successful herb planting indoors. You can also use grow lights to supplement the lack of bright sunshine indoors.

Whether you are planting indoors or outdoors, you will want to use the right soil. For outdoor planting, you can use a garden soil. For indoor plants, you will need to use a potting soil. The big diffrence is that potting soil has perlite in it and garden soil does not. The perlite in the potting soil helps the plant breath better since all the sides of the pot are covered except for the top. Your local Home Depot carries several types of potting and garden soils, as do many other nursery supply stores. Check with you local store associate for more information.

One thing to be aware of if you plan on having your plants indoors is the window sill. If you do not have thermal windows, you herb plant could get too hot or too cold, depending on the weather outside. Glass can also magnifying the sunlite which can possibly burn your herb plant.

Regular watering will be the key to keeping your herbs alive inside. You will want the soil to be damp but not wet to the touch. The environment plays a key roll in how often you will water. If you have a low humidity location for your plants, they will require more water. Try not to have the plants in direct line of the heater vent. This will dry them out too quickly.

For planting outside, place your plants in a full sun area, this is usually in a south facing part of your property. Be sure to amend the herb garden with a good quality garden soil. Pre-place the plants on the ground before you actually dig the holes and plant them. This will give you a preview of what your herb garden will look like. If you do choose to move the plants around, it less stressful on the young plants. Once you are happy with the placement, it is time to dig into your amended soil and begin your herb garden. After you have your plants in the ground, water them in with a hose or watering can so that the soil around each plant will settle. Try not to bury the plant. The level of dirt around the plant in the pot should be the same on the ground, unless the roots are showing. You will need to make sure that the roots are covered.

If you are in an area that receives regular rain, you may not have to water your garden much. For the first week, you will need to water your plants once a day, unless it rains that day. Watering after that first week will depend on the weather. Regular weeding may also be necessary, although in the cooler weather the growth should have slowed some. Try to keep your garden soil damp but not wet. Keep an eye out for things like snails and slugs which love to eat the young tender plants. You can tell if there have been snails or slugs traversing your garden by looking out for that silvery slim on the ground first thing in the morning.

Other than a few precautionary checks for bugs, your herb garden should be in good shape. Be sure to take some before and after pictures of your garden and send them in. Have a happy holiday.

Ricks Picks

GardenersCardiff answers:

Local garden centres are probably best – otherwise http://www.diy-supplies.co.uk has plenty of gardening and outdoor equipment. It allows you to search all the major household DIY and garden retailers (like Wickes, B&Q, Robert Dyas) and loads of gardening shops using one search.

GardenersCardiff answers:

The Green Thumb, Garden and Pet Supply
(your last name here)’s Garden and Pet Supply
the Garden of Eden, Lawn and Pet Supply
Mother Earth, Garden and Pet supply
Farmer’s Essentials,Garden and Pet supply

maybe these will help or give you some ideas