Herb Garden Plans: 5 Layouts for Beds & Containers

Choose from five herb garden plans for beds and containers, each with a planting layout, plant list, and growing tips.

From backyard beds to patio pots, these beginner-friendly designs make it easy to grow fresh herbs for cooking, fragrance, and pollinators.

Garden Plan Collection

This herb garden guide is part of our Garden Plan Collection, a free library of practical, beginner-friendly garden layouts designed to simplify gardening and build confidence. Each plan is flexible, proven, and easy to adapt to your climate and space.

What’s Included

• Five herb garden layout plans for raised beds, containers, and mixed-garden designs
• Culinary and perennial herb combinations
• Pollinator-friendly planting ideas
• Gardener-tested advice for long-term success

5 Herb Garden Layouts

Use these plans as-is or adapt them to your space. Most herbs prefer a sunny spot with well-drained soil, and planting near the kitchen makes harvesting especially convenient.

Want to customize a design? Use the Almanac Garden Planner to create a layout for your own space.

Below are five herb garden plans you can use as‑is or adapt to suit your space. Many herbs tolerate frost surprisingly well, but they dislike wet, compacted soil. A sunny spot near the back door is ideal, though a balcony or terrace works just as well. You can use the to recreate or customize these designs.

1. One-Bed Herb Garden Plan

A simple herb border for cooking and pollinators

This classic layout fits a generous mix of culinary herbs and flowering companions into a 15-by-4-foot bed. Place it near the kitchen, alongside a path or patio, or in a sunny side yard.

Need a smaller garden? Simply shorten the bed. Keep the width to about 4 feet so you can reach the plants without stepping on the soil.

Why this plan works: Growing herbs together makes watering, harvesting, and maintenance easier. Letting some herbs flower also provides food for pollinators, while keeping spreading herbs such as mint and lemon balm in pots helps keep them under control.

2. Container Herb Garden Plan

Perfect for patios, balconies, and small spaces

Containers make it easy to grow herbs when garden space is limited—and they help contain vigorous spreaders such as mint.

This plan uses a 4-foot-wide hexagonal planter, but you can recreate the same idea with a group of pots or containers you already have. Keep mint in its own pot, and group herbs with similar needs: basil and parsley prefer more consistent moisture, while rosemary and thyme like drier, well-drained soil.

Why this plan works: Containers let you match soil and moisture to different herbs, move plants to better light, and grow a useful herb garden almost anywhere.

The Plant List

3. Large Raised-Bed Herb Garden Plan

Three beds for bigger harvests and more variety

Ready to grow more? This layout uses three 10-by-4-foot raised beds with room for a wide mix of culinary, flowering, and perennial herbs. You can also shorten or reduce the number of beds to fit your space.

The larger layout makes it easier to group herbs with similar growing needs and gives perennial herbs room to establish while leaving plenty of space for annual favorites such as basil, parsley, and calendula.

Why this plan works: Multiple raised beds provide generous harvests, make herbs easy to reach and maintain, and let you organize plants by their soil, water, and growing needs.

4. Herb Wheel Garden Plan

A classic circular garden divided into easy-to-reach sections

An herb wheel divides a circular bed into wedges, creating a practical and attractive way to organize several herbs in one compact garden. This plan is about 8 feet across, with paths or dividers that make each section easy to reach.

Plant each section with the herbs you use most. Keep vigorous spreaders such as mint and lemon balm in containers if you don’t want them spreading into neighboring sections.

Why this plan works: The divided layout keeps herbs organized, provides easy access for harvesting, and turns a simple herb bed into an attractive garden feature.

The Plant List

5. Checkerboard Herb Garden Plan

A geometric herb garden with built-in paver paths

This checkerboard layout alternates herb-planted squares with pavers, creating a tidy design with built-in access for watering, weeding, and harvesting. The full bed is about 18 by 4 feet, but you can shorten it to suit your space.

Plant each square with a different herb or repeat your favorites for a more unified look. The separate planting areas make the garden easy to organize, but vigorous spreaders such as mint should still be kept in a container or buried pot.

Let some herbs flower and the garden can also provide nectar for pollinators.

Why this plan works: The pavers provide easy access without stepping on the soil, while the individual squares make planting, harvesting, and replacing herbs simple.

The Plant List

Tips for Growing Herbs Successfully

Good drainage is one of the keys to growing herbs successfully. Many Mediterranean herbs, including rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, and lavender, prefer sunny sites and soil that drains quickly.

For best results:

• Choose well-drained soil
• Avoid overfertilizing
• Use containers or raised beds where drainage is poor
• Group herbs with similar water needs

Two Broad Types of Herb Growing Needs

One of the most common misconceptions about herb gardening is that all herbs prefer identical growing conditions. In reality, herb soil needs fall into two broad groups.

Mediterranean Herbs
Rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, lavender

These herbs generally prefer full sun, excellent drainage, and somewhat drier soil. Avoid overly rich soil or heavy fertilizing, which can produce lush growth with less concentrated flavor and aroma.

Leafy Herbs
Basil, parsley, cilantro, chives, dill, mint

These herbs generally prefer well-drained soil with more consistent moisture. They shouldn’t be allowed to sit in soggy soil.

Tip: Containers or separate planting areas make it easier to group herbs with similar needs.

Gardener Spotlight: Susie’s Experience

Susie, who created several of these layouts, says herbs don’t need much space. She considers light, drainage, and water needs when deciding where each herb should go, and recommends containing vigorous spreaders such as mint and lemon balm.

“I find that you don’t need a large area to grow herbs—once you understand what they need, even a small container can be productive. I’ve even used an old wine crate or just a collection of containers.”

“I enjoy planting herbs in a wheel or circular shape, as you can think about what each herb needs based on how your garden slopes, and group herbs by light, water, and soil needs. Both lemon balm and the mints can sucker and, if left to their own devices, can overrun their allocated segments. I personally don’t mind this; I use both a lot. But if you’re going to leave the garden unattended at times, consider containers.”

“Herbs are tougher than people think. Leaving some stems standing through winter can also provide shelter for beneficial insects.”

Wit & Wisdom

Herbs reward attention but forgive neglect—and few plants offer so much value in so little space.

“A man may esteem himself happy when that which is his food is also his medicine.” —Henry David Thoreau

More Garden Plans to Explore

If you’re looking to try a different approach, check out these alternative garden plans:

• Vegetable Container Garden Plan — grow food in pots and small spaces
• Square-Foot Garden — a compact, beginner-friendly garden
• Pollinator Garden Plan — a colorful layout for bees and butterflies
• Vegetable Garden — a simple 4 x 4 raised bed layout for new gardeners
• Foliage Garden Plan — a garden designed for shade and part shade

More Herb References

• Free Planting Calendar
• Herb Grow Guides Library
• Grow an Herbal Tea Garden
• 7 More Fun Herb Ideas