Herb Gardening
Herbs are virtually care free when you compare them to other plants in your garden. Consider roses, even orchids, for example, how many hours have you spent, pruning, fertilizer and fighting off pests to get them to thrive? On the flip side herbs do not require fertilizer, do well in poor soil and require minimal watering. Basically, just ensure that they are getting enough sun and a bit of water and they should grow well.
That is not to say that you can toss some seeds and the ground and walk away, good planning is a must and then you can plant.
Herbs will do well even in poor soil, they can even get in a state of being overgrown. Lavender and Yarrow are some examples of herbs that can take over if you let them. Another herb that has been known to get packed tightly together and get bushy is the chive plant. So keep this in mind, and allow for enough space in your garden for the number of plants you want to grow.
Most herbs are just fine if they are given about a foot or so of space between the main sections of the garden.
Chives grow well in a bunch but the roots need a certain amount of water and nutrients to thrive. All plants are competing for those elements as well, so plan ahead for their needs.
If you plant too many herbs or even other plants within a section it will make it difficult for the plant to get the sunlight that it needs to grow. So give them some breathing or growing room. As they mature it may be necessary to thin them out to avoid overgrowth.
Even though herbs are not that particular about their soil, it doesn't mean that you can ignore soil preparation. The best soil environment for them is a mix of clay, sandy soil or loam and compost. This is a good foundation for almost any herb to grow in.
Another important aspect to the soil is to be sure that there is good drainage. Most herbs originate from the Mediterranean, so rocky, dry but adequately drained soil is fine for them. This is not to say that you should have your herbs go bone dry, but remember 'some water' does not mean drenched.
Herbs like Sage and Lavender many times can thrive with just a little help from nature. You may be able to get away with an occasional rainfall and not have to intervene with the trusty watering can. This is not the same with peppermint, it does require more watering and prefers the soil to be moist rather than which provides the organism with an unusually high level of protection. Pink slime consumes methanol (a waste gas) and it is oftentimes found WITH White Water Mold. This organism is very resilient and resistant against halogen-based (chlorine or bromine) as well as non-halogen sanitizers or germicides and can remain a contaminant even after treatment.
Although initially found in swimming pools being treated with biguanides (Baquacil, Soft Swim, Polyclear, etc.), it is now seen in any and all swimming pool environments. This is NOT a biguanide problem ONLY nor is it CAUSED by the use of biguanides.
Look for pink slime under ladder treads, behind the skimmer weir, on the undersides skimmer baskets, pool directional returns, underwater pool light niches and light housings. If you find that the pool just isn't holding chlorine, bromine, or even hydrogen peroxide used in biguanide treated pools, look for pink slime.
