How to Create a Potted Mediterranean Herb Garden
So many of the herbs we know and love are actually native to the Mediterranean region, transferred and transplanted via trade hundreds of years ago. Still, it is possible to transform a back or side yard with the use of potted mediterranean herbs that are clumped together to give off an exotic look. Potting these popular herbs is actually beneficial for both the plants and you because it gives you the ability to place the plants where they are protected and can thrive, or even bring them indoors at the end of summer so that you can continue to enjoy their fragrance all winter long.
Follow these tips to create a potted mediterranean herb garden this summer that everyone can enjoy.
Garden Location
Before placing and potting your mediterranean herbs, find the best spot in the garden to meet their growing needs. Mediterranean herbs need to be protected from high wind and an excess of moisture, so near high walls or natural borders is best. Direct sunlight is best for all of the herbs in this group, but you can move pots around a garden or patio if they display a need for more or less light as the summer goes on.
Plant in the Right Pots
Not all pots are suitable for mediterranean herbs. These plants have very finicky root systems that do not tolerate waterlogged soil or soil that becomes too heated. Plant your herbs in a well-drained pot with a wide mouth in order for the top layers of the soil to dry out quickly. You can also put some of them in planters with pedestals to add more life to your Mediterranean herb garden. Clay pots are also the best option when it comes to material because they are able to change with the weather while also insulating the soil and roots.
Blend Potted Plants
To create a flowing garden scene that helps the mediterranean garden blend into the rest of your garden, double up a couple of potted choices and place them randomly around the yard and in your landscaping. These little touches of herbs here and there really brings the whole garden together when guests get to the main attraction.
Best Potted Mediterranean Herbs
Pomegranate is a great potted herb that can be trained into shapely shrubs for display. If you are lucky enough to live in a warmer climate the pomegranate can fruit with enough sun and warmth, but this environment can be replicated in a full sun, sunroom. Sage is also a popular herb from the Mediterranean region. Left alone in a pot, sage can fill a pot no matter how large the pot is as long as it is in full sun. Scented geranium is a flowering herb that is also very aromatic. Certain varieties can be chosen for specific scents, like the rose geranium which smells just like roses.
More common potted choices include rosemary and thyme. To add interest to the garden with rosemary, get a mature plant with a straight main stem that you can trim into a perfect conical shape or prune the base to leave a round ball top.
I would love to plant a herb garden because I would love to have fresh herbs for my recipes. It costs so much to go to the store and get herbs. I like a lot of the ideas on how to get started. Very helpful post
Thank you for all the useful tips, planting a herb garden has been on my list of projects for awhile now.
Oh how I wish I lived in a warmer climate and could get pomegranates. I am just starting my herb garden for this year. Great tips.
I have always wanted to grow my own herbs. Thanks for all the great tips.
Since our desert climate makes a real garden extremely difficult (trust me, we’ve tried) I think an herb garden just may work well for us.
I never realized that geraniums are in the herb category. Right now I have my herbs indoors.
I love growing herbs. I’m going to plant some more herbs this weekend
Thank you for the tips. We have been getting into eating healthier and doing some gardening. These tips will come in handy
i love it, i love the idea that its just that wonderful time to start planting and i am more excited now that i am able to do so in my yard.. thanks for the great ideas 😉 @tisonlyme143
This is a good idea. We put in a garden last year, but didn’t plant any herbs, just tomatoes, zucchini and a couple of squashes. This year, we are hoping to plant a larger garden and I would like to plant herbs too since they are great for adding great taste to whever you are cooking and we cook our meals at home all of the time.
I am going to start a herb garden! Love the way you can save money by growing these herbs yourself. I would love to try to grow some Pomegranate.
I think we need to do this in our house. I like the taste of fresh herbs in food and I like having plants in the house to help keep the air cleaner and or oxygenated. Thanks for the idea and the tips.
Thank you for all the great tips. I really want to work on my green thumb this summer.
My husband and I have tried and failed to start an herb garden because we use so many fresh herbs in our cooking. These tips are going to be so helpful, maybe we will give it another shot.