Planting a Outdoor Herb Garden.

Although, exact requirements vary by plant, here are some general guidelines about herb gardens.

Before you decide where to put your herb garden, figure out how much sunlight the plants you want to grow need. Most herbs enjoy sun.

Determine the size of your garden by deciding how many herbs you want to grow -- usually a dozen or so will give you great variety -- and how much space they need.

Actually map out your garden on paper. This will help you with your planning.

Choose a site that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day and is large enough to meet the needs of your herbs. (Or consider several different plots if necessary.

Locate your herb garden on soil that drains well or improve the drainage by adding organic matter (compost, peat moss, composted manures). You can also use raised beds.

Group herbs according to their requirements. Place herbs that require lots of sun with like herbs and group shade loving plants together.

Drainage is also important. Most herbs do best in well draining soil. Only a few -- such as mint, angelica and lovage -- love fairly moist soils.

Watch out for too much of a good thing with fertilizer. Overfertilizing your herbs will cause more growth, but will decrease the concentration ofessential oils and will make your bushy herbs prolific, but less flavorful.

To prepare your planting beds, dig down 10 to 12 inches and turn the soil over. You can do this with a spade or a garden fork. If you have it, add organic matter so that it gets down to the root level of the plants. Remove any large clumps and stones that you happen to find. Finish the preparation of your garden by leveling it with a rake.

Figure out the best way to propagate herbs. Some don't transplant well and should be directly seeded. Others do better when propagated as cuttings. Good luck and happy gardening.