Herbs have been with humans since the dawn of recorded time and before. They have been used in a wide variety of functions and new uses continue to be found for them in the present day. Depending on who you ask, there are anywhere from 40 to 60 herbs to choose from and most of them are very simple to grow and use.

Different herbs serve different functions. The aromatic herbs, for instance, are grown purely for their scent. You can use oils from these herbs to make candles, perfumes and other cosmetic and skin care products.

Of course the variety of herb that most people are familiar with is the culinary herb. In fact, the culinary herb is the only variety that most people are aware of. Most gardeners grow a few varieties of culinary herbs but they have to be careful not to plant in the same place the following spring as some herbs are annuals and will appear without needing to replant. Some of the more popular of the culinary herbs are basil, dill, and chives.

The ornamental herbs are planted only because they look beautiful and you can create exquisite fresh or dried arrangements with them. They are usually found in and amongst the flowers in a flower garden.

Finally, some herbs are considered medicinal and are used to treat a variety of ailments to this very day. While not necessarily embraced by the Western medical community, herbs remain an important remedy to ailments in many cultures and their effectiveness is still being studied by scientists.

The culinary herbs are most popular because without them our food would not taste so good. We use herbs to create marinades. Without herbs it would be difficult to get that subtle, but distinct, flavor that enhances many dishes. Herbs are as essential to cooking as any of the other ingredient. No wonder, people keep herbs on hand, even if they cannot afford them. They would rather grow them in their garden than do without them.

Growing these herbs in your garden is an easy task given that you take some precautions. You must make a layout of your garden and know what grows where. There are herbs that are annual, perennial and biennial. They would have different growing cycles. Thus, it is all the more important to know what grows where. Plan your garden according to its growing cycle.

When we say culinary herbs are easy to grow it is not a fact without base. They do great in soil that is drained but is still fairly fertile. These herbs do equally well both outdoors as well as indoors. So no worries even if you have limited outdoor space. You must take care not to plant these herbs too deeply in the soil. This hampers their growth. When you need a particular herb pluck it from your little garden but remember to do so in the morning. This will ensure you get the maximum concentration of precious oil present in the herb.

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