Just about every dish tastes better with fresh herbs, and what better way to get fresh, local herbs than to plant them at home? Not only do they bring some serious flavor in the kitchen, their rich texture and color add dimension to any decor. For some encourage-mint, we tapped Bryce and Kelly of The Vine Garden Market for easy tips on planting and styling an herb garden. Ready to get your hands dirty? Where there’s a dill, there’s a way!

Meet The Vine Garden Market

Bryce Brock and Kelly Revels founded The Vine Garden Market on St. Simon’s Island after their creative worlds collided at the Sea Island Resort, where they collectively oversaw the landscape design, interior/exterior container gardening and floral design department of the 5-star property. With a shared vision for a company that seamlessly intertwines landscape design, event design, and a retail market, The Vine was born.

STEP 1:
Find your Herbs

Incorporate herbs that you use the most in the kitchen or cocktails… or source some you would like to use more of! You can purchase herbs from almost any grocer or local farmers market. Some of our favorites are rosemary, lemon basil, lemon thyme, oregano, and mint but for this planter we used flat leaf parsley and Tuscan Blue rosemary.

Interesting Fact: Did you know parsley has more antioxidants than kale?

STEP 2:
Select a Container and Location

Herbs don’t need full sun. Pick a location that is beautiful, but also realistic. Make sure you have a water source nearby or choose a place you don’t mind a carrying a watering can to - herbs need a lot of water! Don’t be afraid to mix your container selection, massing the herbs will give simplicity to a collected look. Also, don’t be afraid to use a pretty container that you can bring inside and use when entertaining. Who doesn’t love the smell of fresh herbs? Plus, they are actually really pretty!

STEP 3:
Get Your Hands Dirty!

Find good potting soil that is lighter and not super heavy. You don’t want to suffocate your herbs as they need proper drainage. Fill your container with soil, leaving 1-2” of container showing at the top. Dig small holes into the soil once you’ve filled it up to place your herbs.

STEP 4:
Gently Loosen

When you are ready to plant make sure you squeeze the sides of the plastic containers that the herbs come packaged in. Some of the time, the roots and dirt can get compacted at the bottom making it hard to remove and re-plant. You don’t want to pull the plant from the top – make sure you grab near the roots to remove.

STEP 5:
Situate the Plant

The level of the soil on the herb needs to be almost even with the level of the container. Once you’ve placed your herbs in the soil, pour more dirt over the base of the plant and press down. This will help situate the plant in your container and help you achieve a healthy growing process.

STEP 6:
Water and Drain Well

Your container doesn’t have a drainage hole? No problem. When planting in containers with no drainage, we usually incorporate a layer of (small to medium sized) rocks in the middle of the soil as they act as a drainage layer. Depending on your climate, water daily until the roots are established. Once established, water every 2-3 days.

STEP 7:
Enjoy!

Cut small amounts of herbs you use frequently in cooking and put in a vase by your kitchen sink. Depending on the herb, they will last up to a week! Have a plethora of Basil? Make pesto! Rosemary? Rub on your skin as a natural mosquito repellent. Decorate your dinner table with herb filled bud vases- they smell amazing! No matter how you use them, enjoy your newly planted herbs as a beautiful addition to your living area.

Purchase this bud vase here!

When it’s time to clean up after party thyme, we oregano you can do it! Get down and dirty with a few steps to remove mud and dirt.