Five flexible herb garden designs you can grow almost anywhere
You do not need a large area to grow and enjoy a thriving herb garden; they can be easily made and maintained, even using a collection of containers. Our Herb Garden Plan layouts offer five inspiring designs, whether you have a backyard bed or some pots and planters. If you’re a beginner gardener, you honestly can’t go wrong with herbs—for flavor in the kitchen, fragrance in the home, and healing in daily life.
The thing is to know what your herbs need, and since many culinary herbs hail from the warm Mediterranean, that means sandy, poor soil and plenty of grit for drainage. Many herbs are surprisingly hardy and can withstand plummeting temperatures and frost, but they do hate being waterlogged.
In This Article
Part of Our Garden Plan Collection
This herb garden guide is part of our Garden Plan Collection, a free library of practical, beginner-friendly garden layouts designed to simplify gardening and build confidence. Each plan is flexible, proven, and easy to adapt to your climate and space.
Included in Herb Garden Plans
- Five herb garden layout options for different spaces
- Raised bed, container, and mixed-garden designs.
- Culinary and perennial herb combinations
- Pollinator-friendly planting ideas
- Gardener-tested advice for long-term success
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Garden Type: | Herb Garden (beds, containers, borders) |
| Difficulty Level | Beginner |
| Hardiness Zones: | 3–10 (varies by herb; many grown as annuals or overwintered indoors) |
| Sun Exposure: | Full Sun to Partial Sun |
| Seasonality: | Spring through Fall (many perennial herbs overwinter) |
| Soil Type: | Well-draining soil; fertility needs vary by herb |
| Watering Needs: | Light to moderate; avoid waterlogged soil |
| Special Features: | Culinary, medicinal, pollinator-friendly |
| Garden Size: | Varies from small single-bed to large herb garden. |
Herb Garden Layout Options
Below are five herb garden plans you can use as-is or adapt to suit your space. Use the Almanac Garden Planner to recreate or customize these designs.
A spot by the back door is an ideal location for most people, or a balcony or roof terrace will do just as well. They do need full sun, though most will still perform surprisingly well in partial shade for some of the day.
1. Container Herb Garden Plan
As with all plants, some herbs will try to overtake or invade their neighbors, and you have to keep an eye out for potential thugs. To this end, many medieval and monastic gardens separated their plants so nothing was entirely overrun. Old wagon wheels were initially used to separate plants, which gave rise to the lovely, divided herb gardens you still see today.
The simple plan below is perfect for patios, balconies, roof terraces, or small yards.
Typical herbs include:
Basil, mint (contained), parsley, thyme, cilantro, and chives.
Why this plan works:
Containers allow precise control over soil and drainage and can be moved to capture the best light.
2. Herb Wheel Garden Plan
As well as using pots, you can use a more permanent structure with divisions made of simple brickwork. Here’s a classic design that divides a circular bed into sections, grouping herbs by water and soil needs.
Each section of the wheel can contain whichever herbs you use most or want to plant; that said, many gardeners still grow some of the more enthusiastic mint family in either buckets or pots. Both lemon balm and the mints can sucker, and if left to their own devices, can overrun their allocated segments. I personally don’t mind this; I use both a lot, but it can be a nuisance if left unattended.
Typical herbs include:
Mediterranean herbs in drier sections, leafy herbs in slightly richer soil.
Why this plan works:
The wheel design naturally accommodates different growing preferences in one cohesive bed.
3. Checkerboard Herb Garden Plan
A more contemporary twist on this sectioned approach to growing herbs is to grow a checkerboard of herbs. This is a brilliant idea, as you can use it as a walkway too, and the stone pavers make it easy to water and harvest the herbs. You can plant whatever you want with far less worry about invasive plants. If you let the herbs flower, more pollinators will visit the garden. Planting a range of perennial and annual herbs is a good idea so the area still looks nice in winter frost.
Typical herbs include:
Mint (contained), basil, thyme, sage, rosemary, fennel, lavender, bay, borage.
Why this plan works:
Separating herbs by squares helps control spreading plants and makes harvesting intuitive.
4. One-Bed Herb Garden Plan and Plant List
If you do not have space for a designated herb bed, you may prefer to edge an existing garden area with herbs. This border plan does a wonderful job of creating a pollinator pathway through the garden. This is particularly useful if the herbs flower and are left uncut throughout the winter, as beneficial garden insects such as ground beetles can use them to overwinter.
Typical herbs include:
Basil, parsley, thyme, rosemary, sage, chives, oregano.
Why this plan works:
Concentrating herbs in one bed simplifies watering, harvesting, and maintenance while still producing generous yields.
5. Large Herb Garden Plan
For gardeners who become fully captivated by wonderful, tasty, healing herbs, here is the ultimate herb garden design with three raised beds. A new hobby awaits!
Why this plan works:
Multiple beds allow long-term perennial plantings, experimentation, and seed saving—turning herb growing into a true gardening specialty.
Tips on Growing Herbs Successfully
Many culinary herbs originate in the Mediterranean, where soils are lean, gritty, and fast-draining. While many herbs are surprisingly cold-hardy and tolerate frost well, what they do not tolerate is wet, compacted soil.
For best results:
- Prioritize drainage over rich soil
- Add grit or sand to planting mixes where needed
- Avoid heavy fertilizing
- Use raised beds or containers to improve drainage
A spot near the back door, balcony, or patio is ideal—easy access encourages regular harvesting, which keeps herbs healthy and productive.
Not All Herbs Want the Same Soil
One of the most common misconceptions about herb gardening is that all herbs prefer identical growing conditions. In reality, herb soil needs fall into two broad groups.
Mediterranean Herbs
Herbs native to Mediterranean climates thrive in lean, gritty, fast-draining soil and prefer to dry slightly between waterings.
Examples include:
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Oregano
- Lavender
Too much fertility or moisture can reduce flavor and shorten plant lifespan.
Leafy and Soft-Stem Herbs
Leafy herbs grow best in moderately fertile soil with consistent moisture and benefit from compost-rich mixes.
Examples include:
- Basil
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Chives
- Dill
- Mint
These herbs tolerate—and often prefer—richer soil than their Mediterranean counterparts.
Using separate beds, sections, or containers makes it easy to group herbs with similar soil and water needs.
Gardener Spotlight: Susie’s Experience
I find that you don’t need a large area to grow herbs—once you understand what they need, even a small container can be productive. I’ve even used an old wine crate or just a collection of containers.
I enjoy planting herbs in a wheel or circular shape, as you can think about what each herb needs based on how your garden slopes, and group herbs by light, water, and soil needs. Both lemon balm and the mints can sucker, and if left to their own devices, can overrun their allocated segments. I personally don’t mind this; I use both a lot. But if you’re going to leave the garden unattended at times, consider containers.
Herbs are tougher than people think. Cold doesn’t usually bother them—wet soil does. Leaving flowering herbs uncut through winter turned the herb bed into a haven for beneficial insects!
FAQs for Herb Garden Plans
Q: Do herbs need full sun to grow well?
A: Most culinary herbs prefer full sun (6+ hours), but many—such as parsley, chives, mint, and cilantro—will grow happily in partial sun.
Q: Can I grow herbs in containers instead of a garden bed?
A: Yes. Herbs grow very well in pots, window boxes, and containers as long as they have good drainage.
Q: What kind of soil is best for herbs?
A: Most culinary herbs prefer well-draining soil with moderate fertility, but there are exceptions. Mediterranean herbs like rosemary, thyme, and lavender prefer drier, leaner soil, while herbs such as basil, parsley, and mint tolerate richer, more moisture-retentive soil. Avoid heavy, waterlogged soil for all herbs.
Q: How often should I water herbs?
A: Watering needs vary by herb. As a general rule, water the soil when it feels dry an inch below the surface. Herbs prefer consistent moisture without soggy soil—plants like basil need more frequent watering, while rosemary and thyme prefer to dry out slightly between waterings.
Q: Should I harvest herbs often?
A: Yes. Regular harvesting encourages herbs to grow fuller and prevents many plants from flowering too early.
More References
Wit & Wisdom
“Herbs are the friend of the physician and the pride of cooks.” — Charlemagne
“A man may esteem himself happy when that which is in his food is also his medicine.” — Henry David Thoreau
Herbs reward attention but forgive neglect—and few plants offer so much value in so little space.
More Garden Plans to Explore
If you’re looking to try a different approach, check out these alternative garden plans:
- Vegetable Container Garden Plan - grow a productive, flexible garden almost anywhere using pots and containers.
- Square-Foot Garden - perfect for beginners who want a productive, compact raised bed garden with minimal fuss.
- Pollinator Garden Plan - an open, native flowers that are easy for pollinators to access.
- Vegetable Garden - 4×8 raised bed vegetable garden plan is ideal for beginners.
- Foliage Garden Plan - for shady or partly shaded spots where blooms can be unreliable.
Vegetable Garden Plans
Flower Garden Plans
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