How to Build an Herb Spiral—a Compact Raised Bed for Your Kitchen Garden

With the rise in the popularity of growing your own food, many people are trying to get back to basics by using traditional growing techniques that have served both farmers and homesteaders alike for generations. Using an herb spiral is one such technique, which allows growers to add a variety of fresh herbs to the garden without having to take up too much valuable space in their yard.

Not only does this multi-level garden bed have a lot of benefits for the plants themselves—you can plant a mix of full sun and shade-loving herbs with this design, giving each of them the conditions that they need by planting them in designated spots along the spiral—but it also makes things easier on you when it comes time to harvest your plants since pulling from raised beds is always a little bit more forgiving on the back! 

Keep reading to learn how to create a herb spiral in your yard.

What Is An Herb Spiral?

Herb spirals are a type of gardening layout that uses a spiral design. It features a mounded center starting point with a cascading circular pattern filled with edible herbs. Herb spirals are great for maximizing space, utilizing gravity to naturally manage water flow, and creating microclimates to benefit multiple types of herbs in one gardening structure.

Herb spirals can also make a stunning addition to your home’s garden when done with aesthetics in mind. "The design should be an extension of your home," says Donna Letier, gardening expert and CEO and founder of Gardenuity. "If your home is modern in design, cinder and concrete blocks work beautifully. If your home is more traditional, [then use] bricks and stonework."

Materials Needed

• Sunny location
• Gravel
• Soil
• Compost
• Herbs
• Mulch
• Handheld garden tools (shove, spade)
• Gardening gloves
• Building materials for the spiral (stones, bricks, or cinder blocks all work well)

Instructions

Follow Letier's instructions below to make your own herb spiral.

Step 1: Find the Right Location

Letier says creating a herb spiral is all about location, location, location, which is why she says you’ll need to begin by scouting out the right spot to put your new garden bed. "Find the perfect location—one that you will enjoy looking at daily, watering, and tending to," she says. "Out of sight can often prove to be out of mind, and herbs thrive the more they are harvested." Letier says the ideal place for your spiral should receive at least six hours of sunlight per day.

Step 2: Prep the Ground

Next, prep the ground where you’re going to install the spiral. "Prepare the base by laying down a layer of gravel—this will be the foundation of your garden and improve drainage," she says. 

Step 3: Build the Spiral

Use your building materials to start creating the garden bed. You'll want to lay out your stone or bricks in a single layer first to map out the shape of the spiral. The size of the spiral is up to you—but for easy maintenance, you'll likely want to stick to something that's up to 4 feet wide and 3 feet high.

Then, layer your bricks or stones on top of each other in a spiral pattern from the center out. "Gradually [decrease] the height of the spiral as you move outward, creating different levels for plants," Letier says.

Step 4: Fill With Soil and Compost

Fill your spiral with a mixture of soil and compost before adding your herbs. Letier says that you should give careful consideration to what you’re putting into your herb spiral, and choose a variety of herbs based on their season, sunlight, and moisture needs.

Step 5: Plant Your Herbs

Choose fully rooted herbs to plant in your spiral—don't start anything from seed. "Plant your sun-loving herbs like lemon thyme and rosemary at the top of the spiral and moisture-loving herbs like mint, sage, lemon balm, and chives on the lower levels," says Letier.

Step 6: Add Mulch

Add a layer of mulch or a layer of coir around the herbs to help the soil retain moisture, reduce weeds, and improve drainage.

Step 7: Maintain Your Spiral

Once your spiral is set up, you'll want to maintain it correctly, first by making sure you're watering and harvesting your herbs regularly. "Water regularly and preferably in the morning," Letier says. "Harvest often to encourage growth."

When it comes to seasonal maintenance, Letier says you’ll need to regularly trim and harvest herbs to encourage growth and maintain plant health.

Benefits of Using an Herb Spiral for Your Garden Herbs

One of the biggest benefits of having an herb spiral is that you can have seasonal herbs readily available at all times, but Letier says that’s not all these edible gardens have going for them. "They make for a nice visual focus in your yard and if cultivated carefully herbs can be changed out seasonally as needed and are easily accessible for consistent harvesting," she says. Beyond looking beautiful in your edible garden, here are a few other benefits that herb spirals bring to the table.

Provides Natural Water Management

Water conservation is a big concern for many people, which is why herb spirals are such a great idea for those looking to do more while using fewer resources. Thanks to the unique design that utilizes the force of gravity, you can use less water while caring for your herb spiral. As you water the top-level plants, water will naturally flow down to nourish the lower-level plants as well. You may still need to water those lower-level plants specifically, but you shouldn't need to saturate them as much as you would if they were growing in a traditional flat garden.

Creates Microclimates

Letier notes that herb spirals create multiple microclimates within a small space, allowing you to grow a larger variety of seasonal herbs in conditions that are matched to their needs through height variation, sun exposure, and water drainage. "The top of the spiral is ideal for herbs that need maximum sunlight and quick drainage like rosemary, thyme, and oregano," she says, saying that your middle section will do well with plants that can thrive in a mix of conditions, like basil, parsley, and chives. "Finally, the bottom of the spiral is ideal for herbs that do well in shade and have higher moisture retention like mint, cilantro, and chervil," she says.

Makes the Most of Small Spaces

Thanks to its design, a herb spiral can help you make the most of the space you have, no matter how little room you’re dealing with. "When you grow herbs in layers, you can cultivate more plants in a smaller space compared to traditional flat gardens," Letier says. "Spiral gardens align with the principles of urban design, functionality, and sustainability."