How to Create an Edible Landscape

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With celebrities and politicians pumping their publicity campaigns with focuses on "going green," it's no wonder that everyone is becoming more aware of ways to contribute to a healthier planet. And why not? As the world turns greener, it will only generate more oxygen, vitamin rich plants and healthier soil. One way to join in on this organic trend is by planting an edible landscape around your home. If you pick edible plantings, arrange them to make a pleasing and functional garden on your grounds (making sure to consider the year-round look you're after in your plants), you can create a homey paradise that you can eat. Here are some basic steps.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

How to Create an Edible Landscape

Step1

Plan your garden. Consider the basics of landscaping in general. Low plants for ground cover, shrubs for screening, small trees for framing the garden and large trees for shade. There are edible choices in all of these categories.

Step2

For ground cover, choose herbs instead of border grass. Mint, oregano, chamomile, coriander, as well as medicinal herbs. Also consider strawberries, which provide a spring to fall crop. Nasturtium is a beautiful and edible ground cover flower, and its leaves and seeds are edible too.

Step3

Plant some lettuces, cabbage, asparagus, broccoli, kale and persimmons for winter color for your ground cover. Plant salad vegetables closer to the kitchen for easy harvesting.

Step4

Blueberry and brambleberry make great, colorful shrubs for screening on fences. Plant south facing for best sun and longest growing season.

Step5

Fruit trees make great framing trees, and some can grow to shade trees. Choose from apple, banana, fig, nectarine, oranges and pear trees.

Step6

Use flagstones set in gravel for walking through your garden. They reflect extra light into dense undergrowth, and retain heat, giving it off at night.

Tips & Warnings

The key to maintaining your edible landscape is fertile topsoil and compost.
Check out "The Complete Book of Edible Landscaping" by Rosalind Creasy for comprehensive ideas.
Add cut flowers to garden to attract bees.
Limit your pet's access to garden to avoid contamination of growing edibles.