Garden Gab

The use of turf benches as garden fixtures originally became popular during the Middle Ages in European monastery and castle herberies, as a way for visitors to enjoy a cool, fragrant rest and allowed ladies who were jealous about their fair complexions enjoy the garden in shade and privacy.

One of the most famous depictions of a medieval herbery: Madonna on the Turf Bench by Martin Schongauer

As outdoor living becomes more and more prevalent, gardeners are again turning to the turf bench as an alternative or in addition to plastic or wooden furniture sets.  Turf benches stay cool long into the summer months, even in direct sun, and they can be planted with fragrant herbs or flowers to surround the sitter with pleasant smells and small bursts of color.  Turf benches can also perform double duty, acting as a container herb garden as well as a functional garden seat.

Turf benches can be made by creating natural banks of turf if your space is exceptionally hilly, however, we like the simplicity of starting with a large trellis planter.

The wide Nottingham Lattice Planter from www.thetrellisstore.com makes an ideal housing for a turf bench

This particular trellis planter is on wheels, making it easy to move to our final spot when we’re through (or easy to move back to the hose to be watered), but if you choose one without casters, you may want to build the bench in its final location, as it will be heavy when finished.

Fill the planter with soil, but keep it loose.  If you pack the soil down your turf will have a tough time rooting.  You will want to plant any climbing plants for the trellis toward the back of the planter.  Choose the most fragrant plants: roses, honeysuckle, or sweet pea for example.  You may also choose to hang planters from the trellis rather than train plants to climb up.  The goal is to provide shade for the seat’s back and utilize soft breezes to produce a pleasant smell from your flowers.

The next step is to add the turf or sod.  Turf is simply a thick mat of grass and grass roots that can be cut either from a spot in your yard (say where you are breaking ground for a flower bed) or purchased from specialized turf growers.  You could also opt for artificial turf if you prefer to have low maintenance, but will not be an option if you want to scatter herb plants on the seat.  Cut your turf to size, leaving an opening for any climbing plants to push through and gently tamp down and water your turf immediately to encourage rooting.

One of the attractions of the turf bench is that it is always cool.  However, if you live in a very damp climate, you may want to lay a permanent seat with the sod.  A small slab of river rock or a disc of tree trunk will work nicely, simply cut a space in the turf for it and press your seat in.  As the turf roots it will knit itself around the seat, anchoring it firmly.

You can purchase (or cut) purely grass turf, or you can explore flowering turf, which looks more like meadow grass:

You can also create this yourself once after laying your turf.  Simply make small incisions with a sharp spade or knife to plant rampant growth herbs like chamomile or mint or to plant small flower bulbs such as flowering crocus.

Your turf bench may take up to a year to become fully established with growing herbs and flowers, but it will actually be usable within a few weeks: as soon as the turf has rooted, it is ready for use as seating.  To keep your turf bench trim and healthy, remember to water it along with your other flower beds and potted plants and use a weed wacker or even a hedge trimmer (especially if you have planted woody herbs like thyme) once a month or so to keep it short and comfortable.