Preparing Garden for Planting Herbs Next Spring
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Allyson Verdone
Posted on: September 1, 1998

I live in Wisconsin and would like to start an herb garden, outdoors next spring. Is there anything I should do to prepare for the spring now? Also, what kind of soil do herbs like (pH, sandy, clay, etc...) and what kind of fertilizers would you recommend?

Preparing the soil now is an excellent idea. Remove weeds and grass repeatedly and maybe by the time you plant your herbs they won’t have any competition!

Most herbs like a well-drained soil and therefore if the future herb garden is on clay, you have to work in a lot of sharp builders sand and compost. The majority of herbs like a neutral soil with some tolerating acid soil and others doing OK on alkaline soil. Many herbs develop a better flavour if the soil is not too rich. Working in lots of well rotted compost with a sprinkle of wood ashes is usually all that is needed. For rapidly growing herbs you might want to add a dilute solution of an organic fertilizer to prevent depletion of the soil.

You might wish to consult the book "Growing Herbs" by John Mason, Richters catalogue #B4260, to help you with the more specific culture of various herbs.

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