Creating a Parterre

Parterres are ornamental flower, herb or vegetable beds edged by low, tightly clipped evergreen hedges. This herb parterre is ideal outside a kitchen window.

Excerpted from Simple Steps: Herbs
Filed under: Herbs, Gardening

Step 6

With a sharp knife, cut slits into the landscape fabric approximately 8 inches apart where the hedging plants are to go. Using a trowel or just your fingers, make planting holes in the soil and firm in the hedging plants.

Step 7

Work around the pattern until all the hedging is planted. The shrubs in this pattern are box (Buxus sempervirens), but other suitable plants include Lavandula angustifolia and Teucrium x lucidrys.

Step 8

Arrange the herbs in their pots until you are happy with the design. Larger plants, like this bay tree in a terracotta pot, can be used to create a focal point. Cut the fabric and plant each herb carefully, as in Step 6.