What are beginner-friendly edible landscaping projects?

The best edible landscaping for beginners consists of simple high-impact projects that need the least amount of expertise. Replace ornamental blushing borders with blueberry bushes, which give spring flowers, summer fruits, and flaming foliage in the fall. Creeping thyme is as fragrant as a lawn alternative, and does not need mowing. These are quick-win projects, great for learning basic gardening knowledge.

Set up container herb gardens next to kitchen doors for cooking convenience. Combine all three herbs, basil, parsley, and mint, into one 24-inch pot. Herbs need only morning sun and weekly watering. Cut sprigs as needed, and they will add fresh flavor to your food in less than five minutes after harvesting.

Cultivate cucumbers on ornamental trellis on sunny walls or fences. You can construct simple A-frames using bamboo poles tied together with twine. Plant seedlings at the foot of the plants, training the vines to grow up. This will not only give a harvest of crisp cucumbers but also produce useful garden art.

Space these projects with the seasons for easier learning. Combine container herbs in the spring with thyme lawns in the summer, and then install berry borders in the fall. Each success lends confidence to the next set of larger renovations. My original thyme patch now covers 100 square feet, having grown from four original plants.

These beginner projects offer immediate payoffs while teaching core design elements. You'll learn about sun patterns from container-grown herbs, soil conditions from berry bushes, and vertical gardening from trellised cucumbers. In a few months, these initial arrangements will form the foundation of your edible landscape journey.

Read the full article: 10 Essential Edible Landscape Design Tips