Designing your garden wisely: sun and climate

Before growing your garden of medicinal and aromatic plants, take time to explore your site and plan the space. By choosing appropriate plants, you'll end up with a more beautiful and productive garden. Here are three environmental elements to consider before designing your garden.

As aromatic plants generally need a sunny exposure, the aspect of your garden will be key to the success of your project.

A south-facing garden is ideal.

Remember that the sun varies with the seasons: the sun is higher in summer than in winter and deciduous trees provide shade in summer and more sun during the winter.

• Within each climate zone, there are natural microclimates that affect the growth and viability of the plant.
• You can also create your own micro-climates intended to promote the growth of some plants by installing windbreaks to create a sheltered space or by building brick walls that retain heat.
• For example, if you live in a cold region and want to grow a plant that is sensitive to cold, such as bamboo, you can try to recreate the protective environment it needs.
• If unsure of what to choose, simply observe which plants are thriving in your neighbourhood, in gardens and in public spaces. You can also seek advice from a horticulturist or a nursery.

• In Quebec, for example, the climatic conditions are quite variable.
• Between north and south, the vegetation differences can vary from three to six weeks!
• There are also large differences between the climate in western Canada, which is oceanic, rather mild in winter and humid in summer, and the Eastern Canada, which is continental, cold in winter and rather dry in summer.
• Also note that the gardens near the sea are subject to sea winds that are laden with salt particles and the coastal climate extends over several kilometres inland.
• Finally, and thanks to the proximity of the Great Lakes, Southern Ontario benefits from warming that encourages the growth of subtropical plants.
• Usually, it's best to plant in the spring or fall, and that's determined by the dates of the first and last frost.

Follow these three tips before starting to grow a whole range of herbs and spices and you should save a lot of time and effort by avoiding mistakes.