Planting a Mediterranean herb garden
Rosemary, sage, thyme and lavender thrive on neglect. Here's how to give them the conditions they love.
Mediterranean herbs evolved on dry, sunny, rocky hillsides. Give them the same conditions and they'll need almost no care.
Sun and drainage
Pick the hottest, sunniest spot you have. Drainage matters more than fertility: these herbs hate wet roots in winter. On heavy clay, plant them in a raised bed or large pots, or mix in plenty of grit.
The core plants
- Rosemary: evergreen and woody. Trailing types look lovely spilling over walls.
- Sage: purple and variegated forms are just as tasty.
- Thyme: dozens of varieties, from upright to creeping.
- Oregano/marjoram: pollinators love the flowers.
- Lavender: for scent and bees rather than cooking.
Feeding and watering
Don't feed them; rich soil gives soft, floppy growth with less flavour. Water new plants until they establish, then only in long dry spells.
Pruning
Trim after flowering to keep plants compact. Avoid cutting into old bare wood on lavender and thyme, as it often won't regrow.
Mulch with gravel
A layer of gravel around the plants keeps the base dry, reflects heat and suppresses weeds, and it looks the part too.
