Herb garden designs are highly personal, as each person has a specific look they are trying to accomplish. Some are not as interested in the look as they are the herbs themselves. No matter what you are looking to accomplish, a good design is very important. A good design can make the difference between a garden, which thrives, and one that struggles. Since there is no point in planting a garden you don't want to survive, you will do well to learn about planning. You do not have to be an expert in order to design a good garden. You only need to know what your plants need in order to thrive. Giving them what they require is easy with the right design.

Wind is something a lot of herb garden designs do not take into consideration. So much attention is placed on aesthetics; factors such as wind are ignored. Most herbs do not do well in windy conditions. In order to allow your plants to grow, you will want to protect them from strong winds. A good idea is to gauge how strong the winds are in your area. Next you will want to figure out what direction the wind blows most often. This can be accomplished with something as simple as a streamer attached to a stick. Making the stick as tall as your herbs will allow you to see how they might be affected. Blocking or slowing down wind can be accomplished by using walls or hedges.

Different herbs require different amounts of light. Great herb garden designs provide only the right amount of light to your plants. The packet of seeds you buy from the store should be able to tell you how much or how little shade your plant will need. Plants like lavender, oregano, thyme and rosemary require about 7 hours of direct sunlight. Others like mint, lemon balm, parsley, and chervil benefit from being in partial shade. Overhangs with vines and lattice will provide shade as needed. Box hedges and walls can also provide the necessary shade. Just make sure the plants that need the most sunlight have the exposure they need. You will notice brown leaves on plants getting too much light.

Being careful of plants which are considered invasive helps your garden maintain it's appearance. Most herb garden designs will include barriers for plants like lavender, mint and chives. Lavender does well in a pot. It helps to accentuate the appearance of the plant itself while containing it. Try to make sure the wind will not blow across the lavender to the rest of your garden. The seeds from this perennial have been known to spread yards away from where the plant is. Do not be surprised if you start growing herbs outside of your garden parameters.

When planning herb garden designs, many people want to include a walkway. This is a great idea as long as it is done correctly. You will want to avoid anything that will negatively affect the garden itself. Paved walkways are a big no-no. This is because the water will run off from the walkway and drown your plants. If you want something hard to walk on, you can use large stones, or cobble stones. This will allow water to be absorbed by the ground around the stones. You will be spared from having to walk on mud, but keep your plants healthy.