Herbs are a wonderful start for a novice gardener because they do well even in poor soil, require little or no fertilizer, and tend to be quite forgiving of a beginner’s mistakes. Many herbs are resistant to insect infestations, and do not require heavy maintenance such as pruning. Here are some basic herb gardening tips that will get you off to a good start:

Having the right tools once you plan what types of herbs you will grow is very important. Many times a small shovel or spade will do just fine. Cuttings from herbs do not require a large hole, and seeds should be kept near the surface. New seeds using compacted soil can take just a fork or spike to aerate. Soil with good drainage is a must as most herbs do not like soil that is too wet.

Another tool that can be helpful for maintaining your herb garden are a pair of pruning shears. You can use standard scissors for things like cutting twine or snipping small stems, but when it comes to pruning, it is important to have a good pair of shears.

A watering can is a good choice to irrigate your container garden; some have a single spout, and others a sort of sprinkler head over the nozzle. One of our basic herb gardening tips is that herbs require less water than most plants and root rot is a common result of over watering.

Watering cans may be suitable for herbs planted in pots and small areas. But for bigger gardens, an automatic water system that would save you time and money would prove indispensable. Although, it may require replacement every couple of years, a simple and inexpensive drip or soaker hose system can be easily established for the purpose.

One thing to bear in mind for maintaining your water system is how the elements can impact its durability. Snow and cold temperatures tend to rot and plug the hoses. This means that you will need to replace them after a couple years. This is not an extremely overwhelming task. You simply create a design that lays close to your plants and then secure the hoses with either plastic or metal spikes.

Wheelbarrows are very helpful garden tools. They help you transport seedlings to your garden that need to be transplanted. Many people put the weeds that they pull into a wheel barrow because this is easier than picking up all those pulled weeds off of the ground and makes it easier to cart them away.

After planting, a 3-4 inch thick pile of mulch can be applied around the base of the plant. Mulch, which can be made from a combination of wood chips, bark, leaves, gravel, or even shredded newspapers, will not only minimize weeding later but also helps enhance soil fertility. It is just necessary, however, to leave about an inch in diameter of space around the base when applying mulch so as to avoid any excess buildup of moisture and heat that may cause unnecessary damage to the plant.

As you can see, these basic herb gardening tips are not difficult at all. Purchasing some good quality tools to use as well as some seeds is a fine beginning point. Then you’ll need to find a spot of nice soil and start planting!

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