Unless you live in the Mediterranean region, rosemary is not native to your area. So your main job is to give your rosemary plant a place that feels like home by growing it in the best way possible. I also want to say that rosemary is not as stable as the other perennial herbs in the mint plant family.
Rosemary thrives during the warm season. Plant rosemary when the temperatures are in the 60s, 70s, or 80s, and youll get so many leaves. You should plant rosemary in your garden six to eight weeks before the temperatures will be outside of this range. This will give the plants time to get established.
Rosemary, along with oregano and basil, needs a bit more sun than the other herbs. Put your rosemary in a spot that receives sunlight nearly all day long. Your plant will still live with only 4 hours a day, but it will have a lot more leaves if you give it about 8 hours.
It works best for me to grow rosemary in a raised garden bed or a pot instead of in the ground. Thats because Ive been gardening in areas with clay-heavy soil, which rosemary does not like. A raised bed or container filled with well-draining soil is going to make rosemary feel right at home. Rosemary doesn’t take up much room because you can plant it right on the edge of the pot.
You can plant rosemary in the ground by adding coarse sand and compost to the top 6 inches of your native soil. This will help the soil drain better.
Rosemary is a classic herb that every gardener should consider growing. With its pine-like fragrance and flavor, rosemary has a variety of uses both in the kitchen and in the garden itself. One gardening myth that has persisted over the years is that planting rosemary by your garden gate can help ward off pests and critters from your crops. But is there any truth to this old wives’ tale? Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of planting rosemary by your gate.
What are the proposed benefits?
The main reason cited for planting rosemary at a garden entrance is its strong scent, which can help deter deer, rabbits, and other critters from entering and munching on your veggies and flowers. These animals apparently dislike the potent aroma of rosemary. Having this herb planted right by the gate bombards their senses immediately upon approaching your garden, sending them running the other way.
In addition to deterring pests, rosemary’s flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators Situating rosemary close to your gate allows these insects easy access to the blooms, thereby encouraging pollination of your entire garden. Its flowers range in color from pale blue to purple to white depending on variety
Finally the woody rosemary plant serves as an attractive, ornamental feature next to gates fences, and entry arbors. Its upright form and needle-like foliage provide nice texture contrast to other plants. The lush greenery can act as a living screen for privacy too.
What does the research show?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of scientific evidence supporting the notion that planting rosemary repels pests Most of these claims remain unverified gardener’s tales passed down over generations. However, that doesn’t mean rosemary offers no benefit at all as a companion plant
One study did find that deer showed some avoidance to plots containing rosemary versus control plots. But the effect was relatively minor compared to plants like lavender and garlic. Rabbits also seem largely undeterred by rosemary, happily munching away on it. Overall, pinning all your critter-repelling hopes on rosemary might not be the best strategy.
That said, its flowers definitely attract pollinators, which can boost the health and yields of nearby vegetation through improved pollination. Allowing these beneficial insects easy garden access via rosemary planted near gates or borders does make sense.
Where is the best place to plant rosemary?
Ideally, plant rosemary in a sunny, well-draining spot with a bit of afternoon shade. It thrives in hot, arid Mediterranean conditions but also grows well in most temperate climates. Rosemary suffers if soil stays constantly wet.
While gate placement takes advantage of its pest-repelling qualities, remember rosemary really needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Situating it on the north side of a fence or structure will deprive it of sufficient light. The south or west sides of a garden’s edge usually provide better sun exposure.
If your gateway lies in perpetual shade, consider planting rosemary along the sunny side of the garden instead. Nearby herbs like lavender, garlic, and chives may also help limit animal intrusions. Groupings of these plants maximize the impact of their scents to confuse pests.
For ornamental purposes, plant rosemary in visually prominent areas where its attractive flowers and foliage can be appreciated. Tuck it into borders, herb spirals, or front-and-center in beds. Use upright varieties as fragrant hedges or living fences. Prostrate rosemary cultivars work great as scented ground covers too.
Growing tips
Rosemary thrives in hot, sunny Mediterranean conditions. In other regions, choose full sun locations with well-draining soil. Amend clay-heavy dirt with compost to improve drainage.
- Space plants 2-3 feet apart for adequate air circulation and light penetration.
- Water rosemary infrequently but deeply. Allow soil to partially dry out between waterings.
- Prune plants lightly in spring to shape and remove dead stems. Avoid heavy pruning.
- Mulch around plants to retain moisture and reduce weeds. Leave space between mulch and stems to prevent rot.
- Propagate rosemary from stem cuttings taken in spring or early summer.
- Grow rosemary in containers for easy mobility. Bring pots indoors over winter in cold climates.
While the notion of planting rosemary by garden gates for pest control may be more folktale than fact, this classic, rugged herb still deserves a spot in any landscape. Position it where its ornamental qualities can shine and needs for sun and drainage are met. Although not a guaranteed deterrent, its scent may help limit animal intrusions when combined with other fragrant plants. If nothing else, a healthy stand of rosemary looks and smells fantastic no matter where its located!
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What to Do When Rosemary Flowers
If you still want to harvest more rosemary sprigs this season, prune the flowers before they bloom. This tells your plant that it needs to devote more energy to leaf production before forming flowers. Its not the end of the world though if your rosemary flowers. The pretty little purple blooms attract tons of pollinators to your garden.
If you want to, you can even eat the flowers. They taste like the leaves but a little sweeter. That’s not something you’ll probably have if you only buy herbs from the store in little plastic bags, right?
How to Grow Rosemary – 7 Tips for Success
FAQ
Why do I keep rosemary by your garden gate?
What are you supposed to plant by your garden gate?
What should rosemary not be planted near?
What do you plant by your garden gate for luck?
Should you plant Rosemary by your garden gate?
For this reason, it makes sense that you would want it at the forefront of your garden. Another practical reason to plant rosemary by your garden gate is that it will be more accessible to you. You can run out and harvest rosemary sprigs as you need them without walking through the entire garden.
How do you plant a Rosemary plant in a garden?
When planting rosemary herb plants in the garden, be sure to choose a spot that receives enough sunlight for a minimum of 6 hours. Before planting, you can enrich the soil with some organic or chemical fertilizers to ensure the healthy growth of the plants. Consider planting a herb plant with a root growth system from a nursery rather than seeds.
Should you grow Rosemary in your garden?
There are three main benefits of growing rosemary in your garden. Not to mention that it is just an overall good companion plant. It will happily grow alongside all your other flowers, veggies, and fresh herbs. And it is a very low-maintenance plant. Just put it in a place that has well-drained soil that is full of organic matter.
How do you grow Rosemary in a container?
Rosemary grows well in large pots or containers. To grow it in a pot, fill the pot with a mixture of 20% sharp sand or grit and 80% standard potting compost. Make a hole in the compost and place one rooted cutting in the middle of the pot.
Can Rosemary grow in a container garden?
Rosemary grows equally well in the ground or in a container garden, just as long as it gets plenty of full sun. Furthermore, this Mediterranean herb is not particularly picky about its soil, as long as it’s well-drained soil. It’s easy to maintain and harvest.