When I first decided to grow an aromatherapy garden, I thought a few plants in pots would do it. However, once I started growing aromatic Flowers and plants this year, both the garden and my plans took on a life of their own! Here’s a quick review of how the first year of creating my aromatic garden turned out.
Aromatic Pots: Mint, Thyme, Oregano, and Basil
If you only have a small space in which to grow plants, or you simply want to add a bit of fragrance to your patio, planters, and flower pots are the way to go. It’s relatively easy to pick up a few aromatic herbs from your local garden center and plant them either alone, or in groupings, in a patio pot or two.
I tried the following herbs in pots on the patio this year and they took care of themselves – with a little bit of watering now and then! With a hot and unforgiving Arizona sun in June and July, these plants enjoyed the early morning sun, followed by afternoon shade to flourish:
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Mint: Both spearmint (Mentha spicata) and peppermint (Mentha x Piperita)
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Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
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Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
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Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
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Melissa (Melissa officinalis).
Tip: Depending on your location, you will often find different cultivars of the common species in local garden centers. I also found chocolate peppermint (great with ice-cream!) and Thai basil.
Aromatic Herb Garden from Seed
This was the first year that I grew aromatic plants from seed. I did go a little crazy (or so I thought) and ordered all sorts of wonderful seeds for planting back in January when my garden was just a dream! However, I soon discovered that one can simply not have too many seeds! I will be ordering double the quantity for my annuals, and more perennials, this next year. Location and climate – both in general and the micro-climate of your garden – will dictate, to some extent, the success of which herbs and aromatic plants grow well. My seed garden was planted in newly-created raised beds which took in morning sun and afternoon shade. I found success with the following seeds:
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Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum)
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Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
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Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
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Borage (Borago officinalis)
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Bee balm (Monarda spp.)
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Sunflower (Helianthus annuus).
Tip: If shade is not naturally provided by an obliging tree or plant, use garden shade covers which allow rain to penetrate, but protect the plants from the harsh sun.
Aromatic Flowers and Plants (Shrubs)
Of course, there are some aromatic flowers and shrubs that you would like in your garden simply for their aroma and beauty! The following aromatic flowers and plants caught my eye (and nose) and will hopefully bring years of pleasure in my garden:
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Sage (Salvia spp.) – in addition to traditional sage, there are various cultivars and genus available locally to me and I have several of this starting to fill up my garden. The bees and butterflies love them, too!
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Rose (Rosa spp.) – in search of the perfect, aromatic rose, I have invested in several rose species this year, some of which are climbers. Although I have not had many blooms from these young plants yet, I envisage future years full of fragrance!
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Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) – although there was a lilac bush on a property when I moved here, it, unfortunately, died due to lack of water and care. So, I planted a new, young bush (with access to water and lots of TLC) in the hope that spring will be heavy with the scent of lilac in subsequent years.
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Clematis (Clematis spp.) – at the beginning of the season, this plant looked like it had completely died. But with recent rain, I began to see new growth, and I hope it manages to establish itself before the first winter frost.
Uses for Aromatic flowers and Plants
In addition to enjoying the beauty, and aroma, of aromatic flowers and plants in an aromatic garden, many plants can be harvested and used in the home. Uses include (depending upon plant and species):
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Culinary herbs
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Medicinal herbs
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Distillation for hydrosols
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Distillation for essential oils
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Tinctures for perfumery
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Infusion into oils
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Aromatic potpourri
Plants and Flowers You Can Grow in the Spring
Growing Plants and Flowers
Spring is most likely most known for spring break parties. With everything that seems so alive, even individuals in the course of evenings are up for parties that last until dawn. Spring offers that ideal weather for rejuvenation and for feeling alive. Whilst there are several activities that you can do throughout spring, planting flowers and fruits and vegetables is also one of the best things you can do. Take benefit of the perfect weather, the generous quantity of sun you can get, and the perfect condition of some plants and flowers to get produce that is of superb good quality.
If you will be planting this spring, here are some suggestions to make planting as pleasurable and productive as feasible. Particular plants will not grow during this season or some that even if they do live, will not be at their best and freshest condition. To get the finest outcomes, you ought to consider deciding on plants that grow well throughout this season. Here are some suggestions on plants and flowers that you can grow in the course of the spring.
Eggplants are at their best top quality when produced in spring. Anticipate smelling the fragrant scent of sweet pea and herbs such as basil and rosemary as they are also produced finest with this type of weather. Location them in your kitchen and develop your eggplant parmesan produced with ingredients from your extremely own garden. These plants do not take a lot of space in your garden but the harvest will genuinely be bountiful. Tomatoes will be a bountiful harvest when you plant them during spring. These plump fruits can also make your garden look beautiful.
Cherry blossoms, roses, and orchids are stunning plants that also grow best in spring. Line your garden with these flowers and you can anticipate seeing landscaping that will be inspiring. Or you can get the roses and orchids and location them as décor inside your property. No matter whether planted ones or ones picked as décor, they will be able to retain their freshness more than the very same flowers produced from yet another season. Peonies, tulips, and dahlias can also be planted throughout spring.
Planting can be a great therapeutic encounter and a stress releaser as well. Having plants around is good for the atmosphere as they release oxygen which assists us to breathe less complicated. The flowers and produce that you will get will be useful as well – regardless of whether in the kitchen as a source of food or in the living room for decoration.
Choosing the proper plants and flowers for the season is vital due to the fact to choose the right ones means there is minimal maintenance on your component and the creation will be fresh and of excellent quality. You can grow these plants year after year and anticipate the same results. Gorgeous flowers can be employed as décor and fresh fruits and herbs can be used in the kitchen. Make the most out of the season and make spring be the greatest time to make use and maximize your garden.
Flower Gardening
When it comes to flower gardening and choosing the right plants it’s sometimes difficult to know where to start.
If you have a flower border to fill should you go for perennial plants, annuals that you can grow from seed, bulbs, or buy plants from your local garden shop?
I would suggest that you might want to do all of these things, but before you do there are a few other things to think about first. Here are some tips to help you make a success of your flower gardening adventure.
Get to Know your Soil
Unless your flower garden is tiny soil conditions will probably vary in different parts of your garden. Knowing what kind of soil you have and where will help you choose the right plants for those conditions. You will be able to experiment with different types of plants.
Know your Microclimate
Is your flower garden plot windy, subject to late frosts, in a frost pocket, or hollow? Does it get a lot of rain or is it in a drier part of the country? Is it shaded by surrounding trees or buildings or wide open to the sky? Again knowing the different climatic conditions in your garden will allow you to choose plants suitable for those conditions.
Prepare your Soil Properly
Thorough soil preparation is essential to the success of growing any garden plant, including flowers. The first thing to do in a new flower garden or when replanting an old area is to remove any perennial weeds such as couch grass, ground elder, bindweed, thistles, dandelions, etc. Dig out with a spade or fork and make sure all roots are removed to prevent regrowth. For large weed infestations use glyphosate weedkiller but remember it kills any plant it touches, so use with care and always follow the packet instructions.
Get Digging – it’s a Good Exercise
Once perennial weeds are removed it’s time to get digging. Light loamy soils that have been planted before may only need a light forking over. Heavier clay soils may need deeper digging to break up any hardpan and to assist winter drainage. Interfering tree roots can be chopped back by about a third with a sharp spade to prevent competition with your new plants.
Add Organic Materials
Soils that are light, too heavy, infertile, and lacking in nutrients need organic matter. This can be weed-free leaf mold, garden compost or well-rotted farmyard manure, or all three. Mix a generous amount into your soil during the digging process.
Sort Out any Drainage Problems
Digging and mixing organic matter with the soil will improve drainage on clay soils and help to retain moisture on light, free-draining types. But in many gardens winter, we can be more lethal to many plants than frost. Where this is a problem on heavy soils then the addition of copious amounts of grit and/or sharp sand should improve the situation.
Ideally, all this preparation should be carried out in late summer when conditions are neither too wet or too dry. This is particularly important with heavy clay-type soils where the soil can be left for winter frosts and rain to break down the clumps of clay. Planting your flower garden can then take place the following spring.
If you’ve prepared your soil well and chosen your plants carefully according to the conditions they need you are well on the way to achieving flower gardening success and creating the garden of your dreams.
