Top 10 Most Overlooked Herbs

Chives

Every season I take an inventory of the herb plants I want to try cultivating. This usually involves a walk around the garden to see which plants managed to overwintered well, and also an inventory of indoor refugees from last year that managed to survive the change of venue over the winter months.

Again and again, some herbs seem worth the effort that don't get nearly enough praise

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

What Soil Do I Need for Herbs?

This is one question that comes up again and again with beginning herb gardeners. It's a good question, too. There's nothing like getting started on the right foot -- and with gardening, that means choosing the right soil amendments.

The great thing about most herbs is that they're tolerant of poor soils. That's no accident: If a plant was too persnickety, it might have been grown over at

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Using Herbs in Your Flower Arrangements

When you grow herbs, it's easy to find ways to use them around the house. Besides cooking, crafting and the occasional home remedy, herbs make great décor items.

One of my favorite ways to use and display herbs is in decorative vases with whatever flowers are growing in the garden. To make this easier, I grow lots of herbs and plant flower varieties that, with luck, will provide blooms three

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Make Lavender Liquid Hand Soap

This season I'd like to add occasional tips about using herbs to make common household chores and activities more pleasant, eco-friendly or inexpensive. Over the years, I've tried lots of ways to incorporate herbs into my daily life. Some have worked and some . . . well, not so much. One thing I have learned is that herbs can make me feel that I lead a more graceful existence, whether I'm

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

How to Make a Rain Barrel for Your Herb Garden

Making a rain barrel can help you spare the environment and provide a refreshing drink for the plants in your herb garden without it costing you an arm and a leg. Harvesting rainwater is like getting free water. All you have to do is come up with a strategy that will let you get a good quantity of water, even in a light rain, and store it safely.Happily, your home's roof is an ideal bit of real

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Straw Bale Gardening With Herbs

If you want a nice raised bed but don't have the time, resources or energy to invest in cultivating it, there may be a fast, fun solution that can help. If you're having back problems that are keeping you from enjoying your garden plot, then getting some easy elevation on the problem may be just what you need too.

Straw bale gardening is a version of hydroponic gardening for outdoors. It uses

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Free Herb Seed Catalogs and Spring Seed Advise

While so many of us are dealing with the harsh winter weather, it's nice to consider that spring really is just around the corner. Grab those seed catalogs and hold the good thought.If you have some seeds left over in packets from previous years, don't throw them out. I always forget to plant a seed or two in the spring rush, and if I'm not sure how viable a packet of seeds will be, I start

reade more... Résuméabuiyad