What if herbs go beyond the small, contained, and kitchen-window plants we use them for? Herbs could do so, so much more! In this episode, I sit down with Sue Goetz, a garden designer, author, and herb obsessive, to explore the many different ways we can use our favorite herbs in our garden landscape. She has a five-foot rosemary hedge in her backyard and uses chamomile between her stepping stones. She also grows lavender, sage, and catmint as full-on landscape plants that feed her, scent her garden, attract pollinators, and keep deer out. So not only do herbs have flavor, fragrance, and medicinal properties, they’re also low-maintenance once established. Let's dive in!
In this episode, we learn:
- [01:38] Meet garden designer and author Sue Goetz!
- [02:09] How Sue developed a passion for plants
- [05:07] Why herbs are the most "generous" plants
- [06:28] Why scent is the most underutilized sense in our gardens
- [08:57] How to start treating herbs as large landscape shrubs, trees, and hedges
- [10:45] Which herbs are best for replacing large plants/hedges?
- [12:23] How to get large creeping and upright rosemary hedges
- [15:09] Invest in quality soil and compost to build your garden’s foundation with Espoma Organic!
- [16:33] What are some deer-resistant herbs that we can use as protectors?
- [19:02] Which smaller herbs work best for edging borders and invisible fences
- [20:24] Is Alyssum an herb?
- [20:48] Landscape herb sun needs and chamomile ground cover
- [24:37] How chives double as a sturdy pollinator magnet and an easy DIY gift
- [26:25] How can we use herbs as landscape plants to attract more pollinators?
- [29:04] Why you might be killing your lavender and how it actually wants to be treated
- [32:10] How to pair landscape herbs together (and which aggressive spreaders belong in pots)
- [34:34] Why you should grow what you love and then try one "crazy" experiment
- [38:55] How to use colored basil for landscape pop and cut flower arrangements
- [41:21] Simple ratio for mixing your own herbal bath salts from the garden
- [44:26] Where to find Sue, her blog, and her themed container herb gardening book!
Mentioned in our conversation:
For Sue's recommended herbs for garden landscaping,
check out the full show notes and blog here!
Follow Sue:
Website
The Herb Lover's Garden
Instagram
Facebook
Thank you to our episode sponsors:
Espoma Organic
Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.
ZenAI
Visit zen.ai to start your first vibecast for free.
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