People grow herbs for many different reasons. Some want to use fresh herbs in their cooking or for medicinal reasons. Others might just like the aromatic scents of the herbs. Whatever your reason is, herbs need to be used for them to thrive.
Regular pruning promotes general health while preventing plants from getting leggy and unattractive. Whether you are growing herbs outside in the ground or in pots, or inside on a windowsill, you need to trim them regularly.
Simple tips to keep your herbs looking good:
- Always cut herbs with sharp, clean scissors or pruners. This prevents plant damage and promotes growth.
- Snip leaves from annual herbs such basil, cilantro and dill* as soon as the plant is 6-8 inches tall.
- Harvest flowering herbs like basil, sage and thyme before they flower. Once they bloom, the leaves lose their flavor.
- Cut parsley and chive stems close to the base, about an inch from the soil. New growth should appear in about a week.
- Pinch off the top 2 inches of new growth from perennial herbs like rosemary, sage and tarragon every week during the summer.
* With dill you may be growing it for the seeds so let it flower and the greens will start to die back.
Caring for an herb garden might be a little more work but the results are worth the time and effort. Nothing beats the smell of fresh cut herbs!