Most drought-tolerant herbs, like Lavender and Thyme, hate sitting in waterlogged soil during a wet UK winter. The biggest threat to these plants isn't the cold, but wet feet. To prevent root rot, always ensure your soil is free-draining by adding plenty of grit or horticultural sand to the planting hole. 

Absolutely. Drought-tolerant herbs are the perfect choice for containers because pots dry out faster than the ground. Varieties like Curry Plant and Silver QueenThyme thrive in the restricted root space of a pot, provided it has plenty of drainage holes. Avoid tin pots on sun baked balconies - you do not want to bake the roots.

When plants like Sage and Oregano are grown in lean, dry conditions with plenty of sun, they produce a higher concentration of essential oils. This results in a much more intense flavour and aroma compared to plants that are over-watered. 

For paths and rockeries, choose our Creeping Red Thyme or Woolly Thyme. These varieties are designed to hug the ground and are tough enough to handle being stepped on occasionally, releasing a wonderful fragrance as you walk over them. 

Quite the opposite, preferring poor to moderately fertile soil. Over-feeding with nitrogen-rich fertilisers can actually make them grow too quickly, leading to "floppy" stems and a weaker scent. They truly thrive on a bit of neglect! 

The secret is a light prune once a year, usually in late summer after the flowers have faded. Just like Rosemary, you should trim the green stems to keep the plant bushy, but never cut back into the old wood, as most of these varieties will not regrow from it.