What defines edible landscape design?
Written by
Benjamin Miller
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.The field of edible landscape design combines food growing with beauty. You fit fruit trees, berry bushes, and herbs into ornamental plans that please the eye while providing nourishment for your family. Such a plan eliminates the need for purely ornamental plants in favor of useful varieties that serve two purposes: the ornamental one and the food-growing one.
The idea has taken root throughout history, from Ancient Persia to English cottage gardens. Rosalind Creasy, one of the modern-day pioneers in this approach, demonstrated how strawberries could create borders along paths as elegantly as flowers. This initiated a movement in the way food is produced in every environment.
Functional Beauty
- Select plants offering both visual appeal and harvests
- Use rainbow chard for color instead of flowers
- Train grapes on decorative arbors for shade and fruit
Space Optimization
- Grow vertical with trellised beans and cucumbers
- Replace lawns with creeping thyme or alpine strawberries
- Use containers for herbs in small areas
Seasonal Planning
- Plant cherry trees for spring blooms and summer fruit
- Include kale for winter texture and harvests
- Layer plantings for continuous visual interest
Correct placement can lead to a functional edible landscape. Tomatoes and peppers, for example, prefer bright locations, while mint and kale can thrive in the shade of trees. Be mindful of their mature size to avoid overcrowding and opt for a more attractive view.
Begin with a small pepper pot or herb pot, or possibly a bush such as a berry bush. Many new gardeners find that they are much more successful with container gardens before expanding their gardening efforts. My first edible gardening venture began with basil in a south-facing window, which resulted in the transformation of my whole front yard in just two seasons.
These landscapes have far richer dividends, besides the food they produce, for they afford many homes for beneficial insects, and they are bonds of union and draw together the community in a joint harvest. Your yard becomes a subject of conversation, highlighting the beauty of its usefulness and showcasing what can be found in practical beauty.
Read the full article: 10 Essential Edible Landscape Design Tips
