Terri Gerber, Smith County Master Gardener.

Planting herbs can be a welcome addition to any garden. Herbs are usually associated with wonderfully flavored foods, natural scents, peaceful gardens, and attracting bees and butterflies.

Many herbs also repel less-desirable visitors such as aphids, spider mites, and mosquitoes. Flowers produced from some herbs attract beneficial insects including ladybugs to help rid gardens of unwanted pests.

A popular annual herb is the traditional sweet basil. Basil is primarily used for culinary purposes including pesto and tomato dishes.

A number of other varieties offer ornamental value and unique fragrances. Choose species according to mature height, leaf type (smooth or curly, small or large), leaf and flower color, and desired scent or flavor, such as sweet, citrus or spicy.

Prune the herbs periodically to maintain productive growth because if allowed to flower and form seed, basil will become woody and bitter tasting.

Plant basil in containers near a path or doorway for their fragrance or in outdoor areas where people may sit outside and relax as basil also tends to repel flies and mosquitoes.

Chives are a small bulbous perennial commonly used to convey a mild onion or garlic flavor to many foods, including salads, soups, vegetables, and sauces.

Chives have attractive, grass-like dark green leaves which typically grow in dense clumps. Chives repel carrot flies, Japanese beetle, and aphids, while their flowers attract beneficial ladybugs.

Mint is a hardy perennial with two basic oils, peppermint and spearmint. There are 19 species of mint to choose from. Cooks generally prefer spearmint for savory dishes and peppermint for desserts.

There are many varieties of mint, all of which are fragrant, whether shiny or fuzzy, smooth or crinkled, bright green or variegated. Be aware however, mint is best grown in containers because it spreads aggressively. Once established in a garden, it can be difficult to remove. Mint repels aphids, cabbage moths, flea beetles, and mosquitoes.

Rosemary is a hardy perennial evergreen shrub available in a variety of forms. Plants can grow to four to six feet tall or some varieties have a trailing or cascading growth habit.

Foliage is dark green and needle-like much like a spruce or fir. Rosemary is a distinctive herb that is often used for preparing tea or seasoning soups, sauces, roasts, or vegetables. Rosemary will repel mosquitoes and a variety of insects harmful to vegetable plants, for example cabbage moths, carrot flies, and bean beetles.

Most herbs thrive on bright sunny locations that receive six to eight hours of bright light per day. Other herbs can tolerate partial sun (rosemary) to partial shade (chives and mint). New gardeners should plant herbs in a container and move it around the garden to try various locations until the ideal spot is found.

There is some evidence that pairing of specific herbs with specific plants benefit the plants. Basil or mint planted near tomatoes deters flies and mosquitoes. Chives or Rosemary planted near cabbage or broccoli deters cabbage moths. Plant chives near other plants and shrubs, such as Crape Myrtles or Pyracantha, drawing in ladybugs that devour aphids.

Regardless of the landscape or culinary interest in growing herbs, they can help rid gardens of pesky insects, flies, and mosquitoes, and add beauty and peacefulness to any garden and landscape.

The Smith County Master Gardener program is a volunteer organization in connection with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.