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Spirals
Garden Spirals
 How
to make garden spirals!
Materials
Soil: a fertile mix of compost, topsoil, and sand recommended for
fill or mounding applications, approximately ½ a yard for
a small (4'x4'x2') spiral; and a full yard of soil for a larger
(10'x10'x3') spiral.
Rocks: approximately 20 rocks, ranging from football to softball
size.
Plants: 15 and 20 plants for a small spiral: one each of oregano,
thyme, lemon thyme, rosemary, sage, chives, summer savory, chamomile,
lemon balm and mint; two to four starts of parsley, kale, sorrel;
seeds of calendula, nasturtium, and borage to be planted throughout
the spiral, particularly around the base and in any open spots.
Making the spiral
1. Place a garden hose on the ground in the shape of a circle. Mark
this outside circular edge by digging a shallow trench as wide as
the rocks you are using, and about 3 inches deep. Remove the hose.
2. The key to a stable herb spiral is making sure the rocks are
set; if they are not set the spiral may settle or even fall apart.
Create the first layer of rocks for the base by stacking them 2
to 4 inches deep, as close together as possible, and pack dirt around
the rocks so that 1/3 to ½ of each rock is buried and remains
firm when you try to move it. Once you have the first course of
rocks set, pack dirt inside the circle to form a level bed up to
the height of the rocks. Your goal is to create a round bed that
is level with the rock border. Use the end of a hand tool or a stick
to tamp the soil until firm.
3. Begin the second layer of rocks, spiraling as you go and again
filling in with dirt to create a level surface. Continue this as
you wind upwards, using smaller rocks as you approach the top and
making sure to tamp the soil until firm.
4. Lay out the plants (still in their pots) on the spiral to determine
spacing, giving careful thought to their growing habits. Rosemary,
for instance, can get quite large and should be placed at the top
or on the upper backside. In contrast, creepers like thyme and marjoram
should be planted so that they can cascade down the front. Mint,
lemon balm, and pennyroyal need lots of running room to spread,
so plant them around the base. In general, herbs in rows should
be planted 12-24" apart. On an herb spiral the plants can be
closer because there are different levels on which to grow. Plant
herbs that will grow on the same level at least 18" apart and
stagger placement so that herbs on one level are not growing directly
above or below herbs on another. Intersperse with kale, parsley,
broccoli and other annuals to provide cutting greens and vegetables
until the herbs fill out.
5. Begin planting at the top of the spiral. Use a small trowel or
soil knife to dig a hole slightly larger than the herb's pot and
collect the soil in a bucket. Pop the herb out of its pot and place
in the hole. Use soil from the bucket as needed to fill spaces around
the plant. Press the dirt firmly with your hands and move down the
spiral.
6. Thoroughly water the spiral. Water the spiral once a week during
the first summer to help the herbs get established. Once the herbs
are established you should only have to water in drought-like conditions.
Custom Spirals
The herb spiral is the perfect design to grow all your culinary
and medicinal herbs. You may wish to customize your spiral depending
on your herbal preferences. Some possible themes include:
Aromatic Herbs: Lavender, sage, rosemary, and fennel
Tea Herbs: spearmint, peppermint, lemon balm, and chamomile
Full-moon Herbs: Artemesia, evening primrose, lamb's ear, and Chinese
lantern.
Herbs for Relaxation: chamomile, valerian, skullcap, and hops (grow
these up a trellis on the backside of the spiral).
Herbs for the Immune System: Echinacea, garlic, yarrow, and coltsfoot
Maintenance
Watering is essential for full production; water weekly or more
depending on your location during the spiral's first year. (Once
the herbs are established, you should only need to water in drought-like
conditions.) The shape allows for easy watering, as one sprinkler
placed at the top will water the entire spiral. Or you can hand-water
the top of the spiral, and gravity will do the rest.
A number of edible '`weeds'' may find their way into your spiral.
Fennel, dandelions, and chicory are three with beautiful flowers
that attract bees and beneficial insects. Identify the weeds to
find out if they are edible or otherwise useful before you banish
them.
A handful of plants need extra care. Mint and lemon balm, for example,
are herbaceous perennials that die back every winter and expand
their growth footprint every warm season. Diligently remove new
runners before they take over the spiral.
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