Tips For Adding Rosemary To Your Yard's Landscape

3 January 2016
 Categories: , Blog

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If you're looking to plant a lush, aromatic plant around your front door or as part of your landscape design, rosemary may be the perfect choice. The woody nature makes rosemary a durable plant, and it is an evergreen hedge that comes back and flowers every year. Although it grows best in a warm climate, it is cold-tolerant as well. Here are a few things you should know to help you germinate and grow rosemary in your yard.

Starting Rosemary From Seeds

Rosemary seeds take time to germinate, so you'll want to start new seeds a few months before the weather thaws for spring. In fact, it's usually best to start them in the early weeks of winter so that you have plants that can successfully flourish through the summer months.

Make a planting mix that consists of light potting soil, sand or vermiculite. You want a mix that will drain well. Plant more seeds than the actual number of rosemary plants that you want. Since rosemary's germination rate isn't very high, it's important to plant more than you think you'll need.

Scatter the seeds on top of the soil, then top them with a light layer of additional soil on the top. Dampen the soil with just enough water that you moisten the potting soil and place the seed container in a warm area. Put plastic wrap over the top to help create a greenhouse-like effect and keep heat inside for the seeds. As soon as you see seedlings start to emerge from the potting soil, uncover the tray and place it in an area with as close to full sunlight as possible.

Transplanting the Seedlings

As soon as the plants have reached several inches tall, it's time to move them outside. By this time, it should be mid-spring and warm. Move the plants to their permanent home in your yard. If you'd like to keep the plants growing over the winter, transplant your seedlings into large pots so that you can just move them in out of the cold.

Otherwise, dig a hole that's several inches deep where you'll want the plant to grow in your yard. Then, use a small garden shovel to slide the plant out of the soil in the germination tray, making sure you get all of the roots. Place the seedling in the hole and fill the space around the roots with fresh potting soil. Water the soil lightly, then make sure that you keep the plant watered with a few inches of water every week, including any natural rainfall.

Rosemary plants are unique both in appearance and fragrance. If you're looking for something to set your landscape apart, rosemary works well. Talk with a local landscaping company about the best places in your yard for rosemary to thrive.