I've found that the best soil for containers is a high quality pre mixed potting soil (usually no dirt found in it). This year I am trying the new (to me at least) moisture contol potting soil by Miracle Grow. You should start getting requesting seed catalogs. They can be REALLY helpful to find shade vs sun plants when you are first staring out. I also really like Park Seeds website for research. They have a user friendly interface. It's great, you can select containers gardening on the left navigation an then you are given all sorts of catagories within container plants (vegatable, herbs, flowers, sun shade). A great place to start.

I'm going to make myself stop now, befoere I write a tome here.

Here is a link that might be useful: Park Seed Container Garden Gateway

I love Miracle Gro moisture control soil - I've used it for years and no longer buy anything else. For the front, try impatiens or caladiums, maybe with some ivy trailing on the ends. For the back you have lots of choices and Parks has good information. Maybe get a couple of books from your local library - there are zillions about container gardening out there!

A herb garden is a delight to have. I love mine but there are a couple of things to consider. Are you using it for food preparation or is it just ornamental? It will really influence how you deal with pests. (you will get some every one does.) If it's just ornamental, any pesticide/ insecticide will do, but if it's to be an edible garden you're going to have to make sure you use food safe pesticides/ insecticides. Lady bugs and lacewings work great if its an edible garden, but some plants are also insecticides i.e..: rosemary, marigolds, sages, oregano, cilantro/ coriander, basil, lavender and mints.

Some other things to consider.
Rosemary and Sage can become a hedge after a few years but are great beginner plants, very hard to kill.
Mints should always be done in a container, it's very aggressive and will overtake you garden if allowed.
Nothing likes to grow near fennel.
Basil and Rue should be well separated, they do not like each other.
A few camomile, cilantro, and basil plants will seed themselves, which is great you don't have to buy new plants or seeds but you won't always know were they sprout up in the garden.
For the most part herbs will grow anywhere, just keep an eye on them. They will tell you when they need water, fertilizer, or pruning.
Herbs also like sandy ground so no matter which potting soil you use mix a little sand in it. i.e.. sandy soil not soily sand though.

Good luck!
...and plant a little mint in a pot even if every thing else thrives poorly you'll still have a green thumb cause you can grow mint.

A good container book is:

McGee & Stuckey's Bountiful Container: A Container Garden of Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Edible Flowers by Rose Marie Nicols McGee and Maggie Stuckey

Many libraries have the book. Check it out.

Sue

Thank you, everyone!! Every bit of info y'all offer is new to me, so I really appreciate it...I have ordered a couple of seed catalogs, so when I get them, I'll be pouring over them to see what's available, plus I live directly across the street from a nursery, so I'll be pestering them soon enough..I'm sure they'll get sick of seeing my face soon enough LOL!! And I've bookmarked the Park Seed link too!!

As for my herbs, yes I'm planning on using the herbs in cooking, as well as for homeopathic ingredients, so the list of natural pesticides is wonderful..and I was already thinking I'd like to have sage, oregano & basil, so that works wonderfully for me!

Thanks so much! You'll see me around here alot more as I get my act together!!

Jessie