Edible landscaping is en vogue—for good reason. This inspired approach to landscape design combines beauty and function by incorporating edible plants into decorative landscapes.
The benefits of edible landscaping are vast. Growing some or all of your own food will get you outside and connecting with nature on a regular basis. It gives you easy access to healthy fruits and vegetables, because you can grow them without pesticides and don’t have to travel to obtain them. Organic growing methods and reduced transportation needs are also good for the environment. Plus, edible plants can add unique beauty to a landscape!
When you combine edible landscaping and native landscaping, you bolster not only your family but also the pollinators, wildlife, and ecosystems on which we all rely. It’s a win-win-win-win.
Tips for Edible Landscape Design
Edible landscaping is both an art and a science. Here are some design guidelines to inspire your efforts.
Follow the age-old landscaping wisdom: Right plant, right place.
Just as ornamental plants have different preferences when it comes to their ideal growing conditions, so do edible ones. Identify the various conditions in your yard (dry versus moist soil, sand versus clay, full sun, part sun, part shade, etc.) and site plants appropriately.
Before planting anything, it’s useful to get a soil test. This will help you identify the right plants for the right place, and it will also indicate the relative health of your soil. Keep edible plants in raised beds if your soil is contaminated with anything that poses a risk to human health.
If your yard is shady, don’t despair! While many annual vegetables require ample sunlight, a variety of edible plants will do just fine in shadier conditions. These include (but are definitely not limited to) arugula, blueberries, broccoli, kale, parsley, sage, and spinach.
Consider access.
The easier it is to access the edible plants in your landscape, the more likely you’ll be to tend to and harvest them. When possible, try to incorporate edibles in the garden beds closest to your house or kitchen—especially those species that require frequent harvesting, such as tomatoes. Plants that take a long time to harvest, such as pumpkins, should do okay farther from the house.
Also think about:
The location of edible plants within each bed. Are they near a path and easy to grab?
Proximity to water sources such as spigots, hoses, etc. Will you be able to water your edible plants with ease?