Herbs As a Garden Plant
Herbs are just like any other plant. You can get herbs as an annual, perennial or biennial. One of the best things about herbs is that you have many options. Each type of herb has its own different characteristics, too. That is why it is important to do some research first before buying so you can make sure you know how to care for it and what it is used for. The following is a nice beginner’s guide that will give some basic information on herbs.
One type of herb is an annual. They do not survive past a frost, so they have to be replanted every year if you wish to continue growing them. Annuals are start from a seed or a seedling, which is a small plant. Another type of herb, perennials, can survive the frost and therefore will re-grow on their own each year without the need to replant. Your other option is a biennial herb. Biennials last over 2 seasons. The first season it will grow and produce leaves and flowers. The second season it will seed and then die off. They need to be planted into the garden in late spring. The soil should be prepared by wetting it slightly and working it until it is very fine. The biennial herb is planted shallow and then patted into the soil. Mixing the soil with sand can often allow seeds to spread evenly. The garden can be covered to help keep the moisture in the soil and encourage faster growth.
As you look at the different herbs you will see they are often categorized according to their use. One popular category is herbs used in cooking. You probably know such herbs, like basil or parsley. Cooking herbs have strong aromas and the flavors are pleasing. There are many different ways to use cooking herbs, from flavoring dishes to garnishing foods.
Another category of herbs are aromatic herbs. These are not always strong smelling, but they do have a very nice smell. These types of herbs have some various uses. Some even double as cooking herbs, like mint and rosemary. These strong smelling plants can be used in perfume and other scented toiletries. They can be used in potpourri and satchels, too when they are dried. When dried this allows the scent to be retained. There are a variety of different herbs that can be used as aromatic herbs.
Another category of herbs are medicinal herbs. Herbs are natural and therefore were some of the first medicinal tools people had to use to treat ailments. They have withstood the test of time and still are often used in medicine. Research has shown that there are many herbs that have medicinal benefits. It is wise to be careful about using herbs for medicinal purposes, though. Not all herbs are safe to eat or use on the body.
Remember that herbs are plants and many of them have beautiful flowers. That brings up to our next category of herbs – ornamental herbs. There are many herbs with stunning flowers and leaves. They can be used just like flowers to make an eye pleasing garden.
As you have learned herbs can serve many purposes, some even serve more than one. When you start learning more about herbs you may want to choose herbs that have multiple uses so you get the most from them. No matter what you decide, knowing more about the herbs you buy is always helpful.
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