Large stones can hog a surprising amount of potential
planting space. Both brick and stone hold in the heat,
which could be important in cold or borderline climates
where a jump of a few degrees can mean the difference
between keeping your favorite herbs in handy reach
and having to source them at the market during the fall.
Hardscape materials like these can be heavy, too. If this
is a DIY job, don’t discount the effort involved in toting
heavy loads from your driveway to the far reaches of your
property. If you’re going to use it, position the stone pile
nearby and enlist the aid of some helpers if you can.
Both brick and stone hold in the
heat, which could be important in
cold or borderline climates.”
Although less popular, prefabricated synthetic and recycled
materials are options, as are wood, bamboo, metal pipe, and
creative solutions like wire mesh frames filled with small stones.
After you decide on a structural foundation for the spiral, start
assembling the stuff you’re familiar with: soil; amendments as
needed; organic material like grass clippings, leaves, straw;
and bark or another mulch product. For a six-foot spiral, you’ll
need between 12 and 14 cubic feet of soil and organic matter.
Installation
There are lots of interesting ways to construct herb spirals,
but let’s walk through some basic steps you can use as a
jumping-off point. First, clear your planting area of weeds
and debris, and cover the spot with a weed deterrent like
garden fabric, newspaper, gravel, or cardboard. Next, install
a stake at the center of the spot you’ve prepared and make
a mark at the 39-inch point. Then, place another stake three
feet or so from the center. This is where the beginning—that
is, the lowest point—of the spiral will be.
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