create a HERB WHEEL

Traditionally, a herb bed was commonly made by laying a cartwheel on prepared soil. This was an easy and attractive way to keep different types of herbs separate. Old cartwheels are harder to come by these days, but you can create a similar look by laying stones, bricks or short pieces of timber in a cartwheel pattern.

Prepare the soil well before you start by digging in some mature compost. Choose a sunny spot in the garden for your herb wheel – most herbs prefer sun and good drainage – and group them according to their growing requirements.

Some herbs, such as basil and parsley, need more water than, say, thyme and sage, so they should be planted in separate segments of the wheel with like-minded neighbours. Avoid planting thuggish invaders such as mint; instead, plant them in containers.

Fertilise herbs with liquid plant food or slow-release pellets during the growing periods and watch for weed incursions. One great positive of creating a herb wheel is that individual herbs can be replaced and replanted as required without spoiling the overall effect.