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Herbs such as basil, catnip, lemon balm, rosemary and rose geraniums are a few of the plants that have insect-repelling qualities. By growing an herb container garden or mini herb garden you can have these herbs close at hand for making a natural insect repellant ointment.

Catnip and Lemon balm are especially good for warding off mosquitoes. Researchers at Iowa State University found the essential oil in catnip to be about 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET, the widely used synthetic repellent.

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To create an ointment, crush the leaves of any of these plants to release their scents and rub them on your exposed skin. I usually store the ointment in a brown or blue glass container and store in the refrigerator. Unfortunately my cat really likes catnip so he tends to get a bit wound up when I am making the catnip ointment.

Tip: You can grow you own herbs and make an essential oil or stop at a health food store and pick up top quality essential oils.

The recipe below will make an insect repellant for various pesky insects

Herbal insect repellent

• 2 teaspoons total of any of the following essential oils: basil, catnip, cedarwood, citronella, juniper, lemon, myrrh, pine, rosemary or rose geranium. (You can use one herb or a combination or two or three.)
• 1-cup 190-proof grain alcohol (available at liquor stores)

Place the ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously. Place in a small glass jar for storage. I prefer dark jars to keep light out. Light will weaken the mixture in time.

To use, rub a small amount on exposed skin. When ever you make any ointment or cosmetic place a small amount on the skin and wait to see if you have any reaction such as a rash or red skin.

Rose geranium is also excellent for keeping ticks off of you dog and cats.

Herbs have many  medicinal , natural cosmetic  and crafting uses. They also can help control insects just by being planted among you vegetables and flowers.

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I dry most of my herbs. I like the look and the smell of the barn when I have the herbs hanging while drying.

My barn works the best for me for drying as its dry and dark. Many people use a dark closet or even an herb drying cabinet.

And with modern advance the microwave will also dry herbs. Some question if the microwave dries out the essential oils in the herbs so that they are not as potent.

The following you tube below shows how to dry herbs

There are several points I consider important when drying herbs.

• Pick the herb in the morning. Rinse and make sure the herb is dry. I usually wait and start to dry the herb until the next day.
• When you feel the herb is dry, check once again. If the herb has any moisture left in the leaves it will mold when put in a jar.
• Store the herb in a glass jar and keep out of sunlight. Sunlight will delete the oils left in the jar.
• Herbs that are left whole, not crushed, will keep their herbal strength longer.

Herbs are easy and fun plants to grow. With the many uses for herbs you will find they are a wonderful addition to the yard and gardens.

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Many plants are annuals and will be removed from the garden. But I like fresh herbs so I will either transplant the plant into a pot and bring indoors or start a new herb plant from seed.

I grow my tender perennials  in a window. Rosemary is a tender herb in my region. And my perennial herbs are cut down (the tops will be dried for later use) and the plants will be prepared for winter. I clear any weeds from my herb patch and will cover the garden area when frost threatens. That may be any day.

If you are planning a new herb garden for next year or moving herbs indoors for an herbal window garden this you tube may be a guide on which herbs to grow.

And here is a you tube on fresh or dried herbs. I prefer fresh, but the time of year can influence if you can purchase fresh herbs.

Herbs are always in my garden and home. I use them for cooking, crafting, medicinal uses and for creating cosmetics.

They are also beneficial in the garden for controlling pests. One of my favorites for pest control and a forgotten herb in this time is Borage.

Herbs also add beauty to the gardens and yard. And for the beginning gardener, herbs are very easy to grow.

So if you haven’t grown herbs you may want to give them a try.

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If you are planning to use the herbs, you should harvest them first but before doing so, you should consider the time you will harvest a certain herb. The weather at a certain place affects the good harvest of a herb.

Some herbs are affected by the season especially during harvest time. Their essential oils can be dispersed by the wind and the heat. It is already a common practice that herbs are harvested during dry season because herbs have fewer oils during the wet season.

If you harvest a herb, you only get a certain part of it and not the entire plant. Harvesting the herb does not mean you have to use it at once at the time you picked them but you can preserve them by keeping it in the refrigerator. In harvesting, you have to inspect for insects and leaves that are damaged.

Typically the  owner of a home herb garden knows that there are three ways to preserve their herbs for later use; drying, freezing, or preserving them in a medium like salt or vinegar.

In order to dry herbs you need to bundle six to twelve stems together and remove any foliage near the base of the stems. You can secure the bundle with string. The home herb garden enthusiasts protects the bundle in a cool location away from sunlight.

If you are looking to dry individual leaves you can place them on a screen or a rack. Remember to turn them often in order for them to dry properly.

Some people who have a home herb garden have turned to using appliances like dehydrators, ovens or microwaves to dry herbs as well although these are less satisfactory ways.

Freezing herbs is a fairy simple way to preserve herbs. Cut the herbs into inch pieces and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Once the herbs are frozen, you can place them together in a bag and store them in the freezer until use.

The third way to preserve herbs in home herb gardens is through a medium. For instance, you can cover herbs like chopped mint, basil or tarragon with vinegar and it will be preserved for several months. Or you can make a flavored salt to preserve herbs by alternating layers of fresh herbs between salt. When completely dry separate the brown herb from the flavored salt and store it in an airtight container.

Of course, the home herb gardener often use herbs fresh right out of the garden. Take care cleaning the herbs before they are placed fresh in recipes.

In order to clean fresh herbs place them in a bowl filled with cool water. If there is a large quantity of herbs you can use the sink. Place about two tablespoons of salt in the water. The salt in the water will drive away insects without damaging the plant. Remove the herbs from the water and dry them in a salad spinner.
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Herbs have different types. They also have different uses and different ways on how to harvest them. Whatever herb you have in your own garden, you should have the proper knowledge and background for them to be used and cared properly.

Jack Grant is an herb garden lover and improved his skills in Italy. Get the secrets on how to cultivate your own Home Herb Garden and get FREE tips. Click here.

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Herbs in flower boxes.

Herb plants are always available in garden centers. With their different floral color and textures herbs will make great garden boxes, plus they will add to your culinary cooking selection. Add a few flowers, ceramic pieces or a vegetable or two and you will have a one of a kind window box. Basil, chives, mint and thyme are all good herbs for your window box.

Best Flower Options for Window Boxes

Begonias, geraniums, marigolds, petunias and pansies are a few of the most popular window box flowers. I like the look of spikes for height and hanging vine or two to create a flow and break the window box feel. When using season flowers, they will need to be replaced in late fall and winter with fall flowers such as mums or greenery.

Examples of successful greenery would be green hydrangea, bittersweet and certain ivy.

When selecting flowers you want plants that will stay fairly small, so that they will not outgrow the space. You will also be selecting plants for an abundance of color and long lasting blooms. Or you may decide to go with one or two colors.

Yellow and white flowers are the trendy colors for the 2009 garden season. Ask at your garden center for plants that stay small and keep their blossoms longer.

One other consideration when selecting flowers is low maintenance. Pick a few plants that have beautiful foliage and will stand out on its own. By doing this, even if you other flowers are in between blossoms you will still have vibrant color in your window box.

Window boxes will add  beauty and color to your backyard landscape . It’s a simple way to have a mini garden and the opportunity to switch you backyard look on a monthly or seasonal basis.

Many of these plants and flowers will grow well indoors and will add more color to your home in the winter season. Just place your window bow, indoors, in a window that receives 6 to 8 hours of light a day.

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The sun-worshiping ancients built Stonehenge to accurately identify this time. The celebration at Stonehenge has been documented in history and held great significance to the participants.

Plants harvested on this day (mainly herbs) were believed to be imbued with special powers and healers of this time believed that herbs cut on this date would be more potent and help to heal the ill.

While gardening you may notice that the plants constantly change in color and strength during the season. If you notice this year even though the season is young for many there will be a subtle change in plants after solstice.

Before solstice, garden plants put their energy into growing roots and shoots and leaves. After the solstice, you’ll see a small change in the vegetables. The plants will shift their efforts to reproductive growth and set about developing flowers and fruit. The additional vegetative growth that was so apparent before will drop off.

For those who follow the solstice or plant and harvest by moon, these gardeners  plan for solstice and start their plants indoors not just to get a head start, but so they’ll be as large as possible by the solstice. These gardeners feel that the plants will peak on this day and want the plant to be as mature as possible.

Harvesting Herbs

Throughout history herbs have been known for their healing quality. Their prime harvesting is when the vegetative growth is most leafy.

The ancients harvested the leaves because they held the essential oils, which carry the scent and medicinal qualities. Many herbs also hold their highest oil content at this time. The heat of the summer causes the herbs oil to evaporate out of the leaves.

A cool, still midsummer morning is the traditional time to harvest herbs for drying and storage.

Herbalists try to cut the herbs all at once before the rising sun hits the leaves, to retain as much of the oil in the leaves as possible. The sun and wind can also cause oils to evaporate out of freshly cut herbs.

For this reason, you want to cut herbs and get them into the shade before sunrise. It’s better to cut some of the herbs and move them indoors, then go back out and cut more. You don’t want the herbs to wilt in the sun while you are harvesting more herbs.

It is best to cut most herbs with long stems. This makes hanging the herbs in bundles, upside down easier. You will also have a benefit of the plants being stimulated into growing more vegetation with a low, rather severe cutting.
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You can hang herb bundles in your kitchen, which will scent the air as they dry, if they do not receive any direct sun through the window. I dry my herbs in the barn, which is dark, cool, and dry. It also has excellent air circulation, which is very important for the herbs to dry evenly.

Herbs that do not have strong stalks will dry better on an old window screen. Oregano and clover are two examples. Space herbs on the screen so there is little to no overlap. They will dry faster and will not develop a mold problem from not having adequate air.

By watching your plants in the garden you will notice the effects of the seasons on their growth and this will also help you notice any plant disease or growing problems.

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Another benefit of a tea garden is that it takes a very small amount of space. A 6-foot by 8-foot garden is actually quite big. If you have less space you can make it smaller. And if you only have indoor space available, a tea garden will adapt well to being indoors or on a balcony.

If you have more room you may want to set the tea garden up in a cottage garden tea garden design with a small fenced in area with a gate and trellis or arbor.

Many cottage herb garden designs plant honeysuckle, clematis, climbing rose bushes or wisteria on the trellis or arbor. It will not be long before these plants climb over the arbor and trellis and add astonishing color to you garden area.

Whatever size you select for an outdoor tea garden you will want to divide your entire garden down the middle by making a path. The path can be wide enough for a wheelbarrow or a slender path used for harvesting. Next create narrow paths within each planting bed on either side of the path.

Your goal is to make everything is within arm’s length for weeding and harvesting. This will keep you off the soil and allow more room for your herbs. I will often place a flat rock to stand on just off a path if I need to be able to reach into the garden bed further. This also adds a more natural look to the garden.

Choose herb plants that will thrive in your garden zone. A trip to you local nursery or garden center will help you with your plant selections. I also mix a few colorful fragrant flowers, fruits and vegetables in the herb garden just to add interest and color.

As with any garden, plant the garden based on what each plant needs for sunlight and spacing.

Herbs can be planted closer together than many plants and still thrive so fill the garden. If possible leave a very small section for a tiny bench or a very small table. This will give you a place to relax, enjoy the garden and have a cup of fresh tea.

I also try to add a rain barrel to my herb garden area so that water is easily within reach for watering the plants.
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And if your only available space is the patio or indoors, herbs grow very well in containers and hanging baskets. Just try to find a spot that get 6 to 8 hours of sunlight for the plants.

Herbs make wonderful container gardens because you have interesting color and texture in herbs and by selecting unique containers and planters you can create wonderful relaxing garden art that can be changed during the season and that also adds tea and seasonings to you home.

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Another part of my garden planning is that the gardens are never just a flower, vegetable or herb garden; they are always a mix of all. All the plants compliment each other and often have insect control benefits when planted side by side.

Geraniums and marigolds help control insects and some small animals so I often use them in garden borders. Okra controls Japanese Beetles so they are grown in pots and moved around the yard. I myself don’t like Okra as a vegetable but it makes a great insect control, has a beautiful flower and works well as a dried crafting material.

The herb, Borage controls insects and tomatoes also like the plant.

In small backyard design spaces and on patios I will plants cucumbers, small melons or climbing beans against the walls or a trellis. Plants lettuce below the vines to save on space, keep the soil cool and add a lush full look to your plantings.

Use lettuce leaf lettuce and Swiss chard as a flowerbed edging. And with all the colors or leaf lettuce now you will be able to add a variety of color to the garden for all seasons. Head lettuce and flowering cabbage looks good behind the lettuce.

I use cabbage and kale as a show of vegetable mixed in flowers and herbs.

Root crops are easier to harvest in containers. I will find nice accent pots or unique planters and add the root crops as garden décor to the gardens and plant a new root crop every two to three weeks to keep a fresh supply of small root vegetables growing the entire season.

Corn and Indian corn make an interesting look mixed in with taller flowers. If you plants corn, a medium height flower and low vegetables of sprawling flowers you can make a great mini garden for the end of the driveway or an accent mini garden. I also do the same with gourds and mix them in with flowering vines and a lower height flower or herbs.

Strawberries, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and peppers also make great accent plants with their bright fruit. There are many ornamental peppers that have variegated leaves that also add more beauty and color to a garden area.

When it comes to garden planning there are only a few planning basics like spacing, light and water that need to be followed and all the other garden rules are fun to bend and break.

If garden planning seems to be a task you don’t like try out GrowVeg.com to see how easy planning a garden can be.

Gardening can be work but it also can be fun and that’s the part of gardening I always make sure is well planned, fun!

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There are many different types of gardens and it helps to narrow down the purpose that your garden will serve. A garden can tend to grow and get to big, which add to the work and takes away from the fun. You may also not have enough time to work in the garden area so its best to think small, use creative organic gardening methods  and keep the fun in gardening. Plants that are properly tended will be healthier.

Will you choose a flower garden, vegetable garden or combine the two? Is your garden space limited and container or balcony gardening would suit your lifestyle better? Are herbs your passion? I myself combine all of these and like to redo the patio and deck areas about twice a summer. It just makes my backyard oasis an exciting retreat for all my friends and family.

One tip I will pass onto you is I find it a timesaving step to group my plants that need the same care in the same area. I also group any plants that need additional watering as close to my water source as possible.

Here are a few more tips that have saved me time in the past. Perennial flowers take less time and last from year to year. Properly planned, you can have a perennial garden with color from spring until fall. And just to make sure, I add annual flowers to the flower garden border and where any of the perennial plants are a little thin. Herbs will work just as well, and I have to admit I really like adding vegetables like colored Swiss chard or scarlet runner beans in flower gardens.

Herbs are amazing plants. They have wonderful color and texture. For anyone that is new to gardening herbs are good plants to start out with. They are hardy, thrive in most soils and are not bothered by as many insects.
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Herbs have many culinary uses, make great teas, and can be used for a variety of crafting projects. I also mix them in with my other plants for their beneficial use of insect control. Herbs are also one of the plants I grow on windowsills and teacup planters. They just have such an inviting look I have to have them everywhere.

Vegetable gardens require a little more work and planning. They also take more knowledge in how to plant and harvest numerous kinds of produce. Vegetables also add color and texture and are a very pretty addition to any yard. With proper choices there will be fresh vegetables all season long. And again I add flowers to my vegetables gardens. It adds color and fun and several flowers repel insects and small animals.

If you set up a vegetable garden in a raised bed you can grow many varieties of vegetables in a small area. Growing vertically and square foot gardening principles offer advice on how to get the most use out of limited space. I grow many of my vegetable varieties in hanging baskets or containers. This gives me fresh vegetables that are either growing on my porch or just a few steps away from the door. One of my favorite hanging baskets is a tomato plant that growing from the bottom of a hanging basket and on the top has fresh herbs and lettuce greens.

Another way of growing both vegetables and flowers would be in mini theme gardens or on windowsills. What is all comes down to is keeping your gardens fun and adding to that festive backyard feeling you have created for your home.

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6. Garlic Chives
This herb has chive type stems with delicate, pretty white flowers that dry well but remain fragile. It grows from a bulb and is a hardy perennial. While it prefers sun, Garlic Chives will still grow in some shade. Flowers are edible with a mild garlic flavor and the stems can be used like chives. Garlic Chives will disappear in the winter, so remember where you planted them. I usually have garlic chives growing on my windowsill in the winter.

7. Pineapple Sage
The beautiful, red spiky flower has a delicate presence in the garden and dries well for ornamental use. It is a tender perennial that will not make it through most winters unless moved indoors or protected. It will grow two to three feet tall and the leaves can be used in the same way as mint.

Tip: Pinch back the growth on the Pineapple Sage at times to retain a bushy look.

8. Lamb’s Ears
This is a hardy one to two foot tall perennial that will grow nearly anywhere. The soft, wooly gray to white leaves are elegant and beautiful and dry very well, and are the main reason this plant is grown. It is best not to water this plant from overhead or rust may develop. In a mild winter it will continue to grow, but it may become necessary to cut back unsightly long stems, which incidentally will flower and are very interesting as dried ornaments.

9. Borage
This large stemmed plant is one to three feet tall and adorned with lovely star shaped flowers. It will grow in the sun. If you wish for it to stay smaller, grow in a pot in partial shade. Borage will self seed and return each year in many areas. The flowers may be frozen in ice cubes for drink garnishes or sprinkled on salads or treated as any other garnish. Borage will continue to bloom well into the season if the dead flowers are removed.

Borage used to be grown in all gardens many years ago. It was used to help keep bugs out of the garden. It was also candies with sugar and used for cake decorations.

10. Ginkgo Biloba
This is a hardy and attractive deciduous tree with interesting leaves and is very attractive in the yard. It is important to buy male trees only. They can grow up to 70 feet and are a nice highlight and conversation piece wherever they are grown. The trees can be grown in a tub, but they do not like to be crowded, so give the roots plenty of room.

This information came of the J. G. Jance and Company website

For some reason Lambs ear is my favorite herb out of this group. It accents cut flowers so well, dries fast and has many crafting uses. It does spread thought so make sure you keep this herb contained.

I also really like the pineapple sage but in my area I have to grow it in pots and overwinter it in a greenhouse. So it’s more work…. but it’s a fun plant!

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