I plant my herbs in pots (for rescue from a too cold winter--sometimes) and in the ground. Have the lavenders out by the street and in the front yard, because they can take the heat and little or no water during the summer. (Its fun to share with the neighborhood as they walk past) On the south side of my house I have dedicated a strip for most of my kitchen herbs: oregano, thyme, chives, parsley, rosemary. Then I have scattered around a few of my wild herbs that seem to self sow, like lemon balm, and mint. They are nice just to grab a bunch to smell when walking about the yard .
Public Designs, The following link may help you to understand Companion planting, both for productivity and pest management. http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/complant.html
Suprisingly in pots in a sunny window in my bedroom is the only place I can get herbs to grow in my apartment.
I grow my herbs in all sorts of places. I found a great spot (that few if any of my other plants like) right next to an asphalt driveway for my Arp Rosemaries. They are huge and very happy year round. My bay and sweet leaf plants need containers, so that's what I give them. My daycare kids and I are having our second basil seasoned meal from basil we grew in an aerogarden.But my favorite place to grow herbs is in the side kitchen garden, which gets very sunny and hot, just what my babies like!
I like to grow the ones that I use most frequently, in windowsill pots. The ones that grow large or spread quickly I grow in the garden. Good topic - it's nice to hear what others do.