Instead of buying herbal tea from the store this summer, why not make freshly brewed tea from the herbs you have grown in your garden? This is an inexpensive way to enjoy tea, and you reduce your paper waste too. Since herbs require little space to thrive, you can plant a variety of combinations without having to dig up too much of your yard. In addition, you can incorporate the herbs into your breakfast, lunch and dinner meals too.

Step 1

Use five flowerpots or items that can be used as pots. It’s best that you have one large one around 24’’ in diameter and four smaller pots about 12’’ in diameter. Fill the bottom of the pots with approximately 1’’ of gravel.

Step 2

Fill the pots will soil and add the following plants to the largest flowerpot you have: purple basil, pineapple sage, chocolate mint geranium, pineapple sage, lavender and gold lemon thyme. The pineapple sage can be featured in the middle of the pot, and the other plants as well as a couple marigolds can be spaced around the sage.

Step 3

In the remaining four pots, plant lemon balm, curly spearmint, pineapple mint and peppermint.

Step 4

Dig up a circular area of your backyard for additional herbs and plants. Then divide the circle into four sections with rocks or extra patio tiles. Place the largest flowerpot in the middle of the design, and the other four pots can be set in the center of each of the four sections.

Step 5

In the first section, plant 12 wild strawberries and allow at least 8’’ of space between the plants. In the second section, plant 5 variegated common thyme. Then put 8 German chamomile plants in the third section. The thyme and chamomile should be planted with 18’’ of space.

Step 6

In the last section, plant 8 sweet woodruff at least 12’’ apart. Lastly, thoroughly water your herb garden and rearrange the rocks or flowerpots so it enhances your yard.

The next time you drink your homemade tea, you will appreciate it more and know that the ingredients are natural and organically grown.