How do I make a small herb garden with stepping stones and fountain?

Grace Hornsten
by Grace Hornsten

Right now our Side yard is solid clay and nothing much grows there. There are blackberries along one side and a newly planted orange tree there. I would like the area to remain natural looking with a small herb garden with a walking path through the middle. A rustic fountain included would be nice but I have absolutely no idea how to begin such a project in our hot and dry climate of California.

  3 answers
  • Robyn Nelson Robyn Nelson on Apr 23, 2019

    Clay soil has lots of nutrients.

    Use a pitchfork to start digging.

    Add compost and hay to improve

    Texture (start adding veg peelings,newspaper,clean out hairbrushes,coffee grounds,even clothes dryer lint) the worms will do the work for you.

    To attract worms cover an area with old carpet or cardboard held down w/ rocks

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Apr 23, 2019

    You might try a raised bed with added soil if you don't believe you can get it to grow in the current soil.

  • Little Sprouts Learning Little Sprouts Learning on May 04, 2019

    You can mix in sand, peat, and compost to loosen up the soil. Herbs grow great in clay soil. Mix it all together and plant them in there. It's going to look great! Lay out some stepping stones where you'd like and it will be perfect. Thyme is great for low herbs, then add some medium height ones behind it like oregano, parsley, or sage and then put some taller ones in the back, fennel, dill, rosemary.