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Herbs You Shouldn't Plant Too Close To Each Other In Your Garden
By ASHLEY HANSON
Mint-Parsley
Mint and parsley have different environmental needs and growth habits. Mint also spreads quickly and can overtake nearby plants, including parsley, if not contained.
As a result, mint can deprive parsley of water, nutrients, and space. Additionally, mint likes light shade with moist soil, while parsley needs well-drained soil with steady sun.
Chamomile-Fennel
These herbs need different nutrients and have conflicting root systems, so they won't grow well together. Fennel secretes substances that can stunt nearby plants.
Additionally, fennel attracts insects that eat chamomile and other tender herbs, causing them to be weak and produce fewer flowers. In short, fennel has too dominant of a nature.
Rosemary-Basil
Planting rosemary and basil nearby can slow their growth, as rosemary needs well-drained and dry soil, while basil needs more water and prefers fertile, moist soil.
Rosemary is also a strong, woody shrub that can get bushy enough to overshadow basil, blocking a lot of sunlight, stunting basil's growth, and overpowering its lighter scent.
Dill-Cilantro
Dill grows faster and taller and may cast shade over cilantro, stunting its growth. In addition, both plants release allelopathic chemicals to stunt plants near them.
Their root systems will clash if grown side by side, and they also prefer different temperatures. Cilantro also needs a more stable environment, while dill survives fluctuations.
Basil-Sage
Sage's need for drier soil and its stronger growth creates an environment that stresses basil plants because they'll compete for resources, so they make bad companions.
While sage's strong growth habit and root system can overpower basil and stunt its growth, basil’s need for frequent watering can drown sage roots.