Thyme makes a wonderful replacement for grass lawns

Xeriscaping is a way of landscaping that uses less water. Whether you are trying to lower your water bills, or you are trying to improve the biodiversity of your area, or you want to trying growing some of your own food, growing herbs is a great way to begin. Not only are herbs tasty and nutritious, but they require very little water and maintenance.

If you live in an area that gets little rain, be aware that herbs during their first year will need more care, so you will still have to water and maintain them, but only for that first year. It is important to choose plants that will be drought tolerant, and you can in many cases choose these plants by looking at the shapes of the leaves. Less leaf surface means that less water is lost to transpiration, and so drought tolerant plants will tend to have small leaves.

For starting a xeriscaped herb garden, some of your best bets are thyme, rosemary, winter savoury, sage, and oregano. These are perennial herbs that will thrive year after year, and they provide delicious additions to your meals. (When choosing thyme, be sure to look for edible varieties.) Each of these herbs prefers poor soil, and will spread, so one plant of each is probably sufficient for most gardens! Harvest sparingly the first year, and afterwards you can usually harvest as much as you wish (rosemary may take two or three years before it can be harvested regularly, as it grows more slowly.) The more space you give to these herbs, the less you will need to mow and water, and you will never need to buy these herbs again!