Beloved Invaders

O thou weed! Who art so lovely fair and smell’st so sweet – William Shakespeare

Some of my best garden friends are – well, bullies.  To the uninformed, their vigorous growth and invasive habits might make them seem nothing more than weeds.  In fact, though, they are useful, decorative, and aromatic herbs.  With proper care, they can form the backbone of your fragrance garden without getting out of control.

Members of the mint family, especially, are prone to spreading rapidly. Besides the many varieties of mint itself (peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint, apple mint, pineapple mint and many more), this plant family includes other aromatic herbs such as bergamot, lemon balm, sage, thyme, and oregano.

So how do you keep your herbs from getting out of hand? One of the most attractive methods is to plant them in containers or small raised beds, devoting each container to only one variety of plant.  Other strategies include planting in a pot or bucket with the bottom removed and submerging the pot below ground level. Devoting a large area in a bed or border adjacent to a lawn works, too, as they will simply be mowed off if they start spreading into the grass.   With care, these potential garden bullies can become your best friends, too.