How to Trim an Herb Garden

Clear out dead or damaged branches from your herb garden. Remove any dead flower buds.

Cut back your herbs with shears before any new growth begins in the spring. Put paper, a towel or a bowl underneath the herbs you are trimming to save the clippings to turn into new herbs.

Trim your annual herbs about 1 inch (cilantro, basil, etc.) as soon as they are growing strong. Trim your perennial herbs (sage, rosemary) every week during the summer, roughly the top 2 inches. Shear back your flowering herbs approximately 1 inch before the flowers bloom to ensure the strength, flavor and freshness of your herbs.

Cut the edges every time you use your herbs. If there is any overgrowth, also trim the herbs down.

Pull out your annual herbs out in the winter. Cut back your biannual herbs at least 1 inch for the winter months.