I have an established floral/perennial garden. I want to start an herb garden but want to keep it seperate. I have a large bi-level deck area. I thought it would be nice to have an herbal container garden there. Is that appropriate or should I plant the herbs in the ground? I am just starting out with growing my own herbs. Thought it would be easier to have them close on the deck, in seperate containers, at first, until I learn what plant is what. A few that I will be planting are; chickweed, plantain, calendula, arnica, peppermint, lavender.

Is it true that the herbs can be aggressive and take over a garden. That was a concern I had with my floral garden being over taken by the herbs. Even though my floral garden is naturalized and not formal at all. I do have thyme, rosemary, oregano and coriander, and I think lemon balm, in the garden and the coriander has taking over the area I planted it in. I moved the rosemary to another location, away from the flowers. Thought maybe just certain herbs are aggressive?

Any hints or suggestions are appreciated :)

BTW: The deck area is full/partial sun. :)

Mints have an amazing desire to conquer the world... A couple of years ago, out at Ren Faire, I planted these pennyroyal plants that were just little 4" pots. They only got watered friday night and sunday night and they spread and spread! I cut them back twice (I cut like 50% of each), and at the end of our 7 week run, each was still much bigger than my outspread hand... We bought house that's a corner lot, and we need to maintain the parking strip. I think we're going to put in a couple of pennyroyal plants and let them take over. I'm sure they'll fill in by next year, they'll be easy to maintain (just need edging), and as a bonus, bugs don't like them.

I had three spearmint plants out at Faire that year too. When I pulled them up and brought them home in pots, two died. Fortunately :rolleyes: the one that survived put out runners underground and sprouted two more plants. The pot full survived some serious neglect and aphid infestation, and only finally gave up this spring...

Originally posted by DEandF
they'll be easy to maintain (just need edging), and as a bonus, bugs don't like them.



Ah, I will need to get some pennyroyal. ;)
I was planning on planting the peppermint near the house because I had read that ants/mice do not like mint plants. I will have to move some other plants, to give the mint room to move freely without invading other plants space. I need to check on what type of light they need.

Thanks for the tip
:happy: {we need a gardening smilie}

I planted my herb seeds...YEA!! :) I bought small peat pots, to start them. Now I have time to mark out where I will place the herb garden...or I might do the container planters on the deck.

Oregano and lemonbalm are both aggressive and also in the mint family... They should be planted in pots and then if you want you can bury the pots in the ground. Watch out for when lemon balm goes to seed... I have had to dedicate my entire flower bed to them, and pull them out of the next flower bed over... lol...

If you want used herb suggestions: :)

Steivia... really sweet... tastes good with a few leaves in a vinager dressing (like raseberry vinagrette)

Borage... flowers and leaves are both edible... I love the flowers taste... I put them in salads...

Heartsease/Johny Jump ups... they will take over your garden and you will not mind. These little buggers have to be the sweatest thing in the garden as of yet. They are tiny purple and yellow flowers that taste like pepper and a handful to a huge salad bowl makes it look incredible. Buy a batch... and give them away every spring. I seriously have a friend who this is her yearly Beltane gift... and we all LOVE it!

Salad Burrnet... tastes like cucumber skin. Really...

Lemon Verbena... can get REALLY big, but you SO want one... everytime you touch it, it will flood your garden with the sent of Lemon Drops... no joke. It smells DELICIOUS! Also great in teas...

Pineapple Sage... add some mint with it, and you have the most WONDERFUL tea!

Coneflower/Echineaca... looks cool... reaseeds itself so beware... Very usful for the body, can be put in salads at small doses... but does not taste wonderful.

The next time you are in your garden grab a hand full of lemon balm and drop them in your water jug or a mason jar filled with water. It is a good way to honor the plant by using it and it tastes great! (lemon verbena is the same... yummy!)

Love Val

Be careful with mint, that's my only advice. We have spearmint planted by the previous owners (we've been here almost 5 years now) and it is growing in all of the cracks in our patio and between the foundation and the patio. It also completely took over a bed with roses and shrubs. While it smells divine it drives me crazy to have it nearly blocking the back door and springing up everywhere.

We are transplanting some cuttings today and once they take off in a barrel planter we will renew our efforts to eradicate everything else. It send out very long underground rhizomes and I've pulled two and 3 feet long ones from under our house. Ugh.

Sage can also grow huge but it is not invasive (at least not in our experience). We have a 3 foot wide sage plant that started a few years ago as a teeny tiny plant.

Containers are a great way to grow herbs but be sure to give them enough growing room.