the herb wheel
The herb wheel is a very old garden pattern and a very special one, which is why green thumbs who fall for its lure approach it with the same affection and reverence they would a beloved family heirloom. It is supposed to look traditional and old-fashioned.
Herbs are usually an acquired taste for the new gardener: they don’t bloom much, they take up too much space in full sun and they’re kind of self-effacing. The herb wheel raises the status of these modest plants by formally displaying them in a way that both enhances their commonality of purpose and brings out each plant’s individuality.
An herb wheel requires symmetry and perfect grooming, once the herbs are allowed to grow out of control the magic is gone. The comprising plants must be displayed in perfect slices, like the spokes on a wheel, in alternating colors and textures, and always neatly manicured to maintain the look and feel of velvet tapestry – no bald spots, no leggy sprawls, no staggering of growth.
Not all herbs are suitable for this kind of design, which requires its components to be small, lush and compact. Kitchen herbs are the best choices for it – basil, marjoram, thyme, oregano, parsley, lavender, baby dill and sage.
Choose purple, golden, textured and variegated foliage when available, it will highlight the differences between the slices, and be meticulous in maintaining sharp edges between them. An herb wheel is meant to be laid out with a ruler.
Trim the herbs regularly, this will encourage them to develop thicker foliage.
It sounds like a lot of work because it is.
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