DIY Network

Planting the Garden Maureen Gilmer plants herbs and flowers in a three-tiered bed. From "Weekend Gardening" episode WKG-404

Ten hours have been spent transforming this abandoned garden into a thriving kitchen garden. Scraggly berry vines and weeds have been removed, the fence has been replaced and the soil has been infused with organic materials. Maureen Gilmer now turns to planting.

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Figure A

Time spent so far: 10 hours.

1. In the center of the garden Maureen has put together a three-tiered raised planting bed, available at garden centers and through gardening catalogs. The tiered beds will separate perennial herb and flowers from the ever-changing annual garden while adding vertical structure to the space; it also provides good drainage to the plants (figure A).

• Ornamental pepper (Capsicum Annuum) has rich color and beautiful fruit; it will fill the top tier of the planter.
  

• Wormwood, Powis Castle artemsia (Artemsia Schmidtiana 'Powis Castle'), Tuscan blue rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis 'Tuscan Blue') and English lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia), all woody perennial shrubs, fill the second tier of the raised planting bed (figure B).

• Catnip (Nepeta Cataria) is placed on the lower tier; it will cascade over the edges of the box, softening the look of the box without crowding adjacent plants (figure C).

• Peppermint (Mentha Piperita), Viola Sorbet (Viola Cornuta) and other commonly available herbs such as chives and sage will give the bed color during the first season as the perennials are maturing; as an added bonus, blossoms from the plants make a great addition to summer salads.

• Cottage pinks (Dianthus Plumarius) are planted along the bed (figure D).

  Figure B

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  
  
  

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  ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  	Clearing Out the Garden Space
  	Fencing and Soil Amendments
  	Planting the Garden
  	Compost and Garden Walkways