A south-facing slope or bank makes an excellent site for a herb patch. The plants will get good exposure to sun, and the soil will drain well which is perfect for nearly all herbs. It is, in our opinion, one of the very best ways to plant a herb garden.
Exposure to sun
A south-facing slope gets full sun pretty much all day. Herbs just love this and will really thrive. The only ones we’d advise not planting in this scenario are those that are prone to bolting – parsley and coriander, for example. With so much sun they are likely to start flowering a little earlier than you’d like, so you might prefer to plant them in partial shade.
Good drainage
Being on a slope means water soaks in and runs off easily, rather than sitting in puddles or getting overly wet.This is particularly good for those herbs that do not do well in waterlogged soil – thyme, rosemary, lavender and sage. The advantages of this is that these particular herbs look really lovely growing together, and you can make a good, evergreen year-round border with them as your key plants, and perennial herbs dotted in between. Think chives, marjoram and oregano.
Suitable for growing many different herb plants
It’s a lovely way to grow a whole range of different herbs together – for those that prefer a slightly richer soil, like basil and chives, simply add a handful or two of multipurpose compost to the holes when you plant. This way, you can keep the soil preferences tailored for each plant.