Knot Gardens

Knot gardens are formal, intricately designed, and almost always high-maintenance. "Woven" lines of plants—most often herbs—are laid out to resemble a knot-like design when viewed from above. Popularized in Elizabethan England, knot gardens can still be found British and European landscapes today. The best plants for a knot garden are aromatic and low-growing, to reduce the need for constant pruning. For Florida, dianthus, rosemary, thyme, creeping thyme, sempervivum (hens and chicks), and sage are suggested plants.

Also on Gardening in a Minute

• Herb Gardening

Other Sites

• Best Plants for Knot Gardens--Fine Gardening
• Designing and Planting a Knot Garden--Knot Herbs (UK)
• Gardener's Reference Sheet: Knot Gardens--Fioli, National Historic Trust Site, California (PDF)
• Formal Knot Garden Plan--Better Homes & Gardens
• How to Make a Herbal Knot Garden--DIY Network
• I Love Thee, I Love Thee Knot--Learn2Grow.com
• Knot Garden of Herbs--HGTV.com
• Knot Gardens--Farmer's Almanac