Rosemary

Overview

Rosemary is a fragrant shrub that is common in both ornamental and herb gardens. It doesn’t need much water, it produces pretty little flowers, is attractive to pollinators, deer and rabbits usually leave it alone, and it is a pretty low maintenance shrub.

Water

Rosemary is pretty drought tolerant. It really doesn’t need much water, and it likes to dry down between waterings. In an herb garden, give it a little drink on very hot, dry days. The plant will survive the hot, dry days just fine, but giving it a little water will keep the foliage softer and more lush for better flavor and texture.

Light

Rosemary loves the sun. It needs at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day, but will tolerate much more.

Soil

Root rot is possible, so it really needs a well-drained soil. It will tolerate poor soil, but will look better with a loamy one. Add compost to help with nutrients and air space. If you are growing the rosemary as an herb, you want to fertilize it in early spring and follow up with a few more applications during the warm season. Use a balanced fertilizer for veggie and herb gardens, and follow the instructions on the container of whatever one you choose.

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