Grow Food in Your Landscape

“I wish I could have a vegetable garden, but we just don’t have the space and everything is landscaped.

Launch Gallery

While chase after my runaway dog to the park I ran into a neighbour whose home is placed at the street recession in our suburban neighborhood . We talked about plants , home - grown veggies and the comparable . She shrugged her apology , “ I like I could have a vegetable garden , but we just do n’t have the space and everything is landscape … sooo . ” I saw what appear like remorse in her eyes . Cynical me was n’t bribe it .

It ’s sorry really , that citizenry frankly guess they can get off me that easily . It ’s so not gon na happen . I looked around her wide , horseshoe shaped cubic yard . It was , indeed , beautifully landscaped . There was a turf so manicured I still ca n’t be certain it was n’t really carpeting . Lovely lace - leaf Nipponese maples , sensational hydrangea , fine ornamental Gunter Grass , and favorable daylilies made her yard a delight to be in . It was centre - confect for certain … but just one more measure would take it to Eden floor .

“ Oh , I do n’t know … ” I said as I survey my Saint Mark , “ why ca n’t you just insert the veggies right in with the landscape gardening ? ” Now , If you have n’t try out that line on someone yet , you really ought to . The tickling you get deep down is indescribable as you see their eyes dart about look for an escape or at least a good reason why they “ could n’t possibly … ” . Now , do n’t get me unseasonable , I ’m not paint a picture that my neighbor thinks food crops are common ( therefore beneath her yard ) or anything . In fact , I know her to be someone who love industrial plant and had seen her out here tending the landscape herself ; she had no fear of the dirt .

Almost any vegetable , herbaceous plant , or fruit can be used in comestible landscapingThe trouble with food crops is the aesthetics thing . That is , she did n’t think corn stalks would heighten the front walk the direction the bronze maples did . She ’s probably right . But leeks , dinero , cabbages , and bush beans would look marvellous . cuke train up a trellis on a fence would add stake . Kaleis handsome , andchivesadd a soft look . If she liked interesting plants , she could go forartichokesor the alien - looking kohlrabi . Do I even need to mentionstrawberries ?

Bell , banana wax , and jalapeño peppers are more great choices for comestible landscaping . I remind her of the charming blueberry bush , dwarf orange and pear tree . Also , columnlike Malus pumila tree , which were bred for suburban situation . As my list get , she stopped look around and asked enquiry or else . I had n’t even gotten to the herbs !

Sage comes in gorgeous colors not to mention textures . Basiland rosemary smell delicious as you brush past them . I mentionedfennel , oregano , Anethum graveolens , cilantro , parsley , and fern - like tarragon . Because she was a courteous captive consultation , I feel I also owed her my tokenbeneficial insectlecture and explained how her lovely flowers would gain her crops . By this time , I had released my dog , and all three of us take the air around her front yard discussing possibilities . She mentioned that she had always wanted anherb garden .

I have no idea if she ’ll plant edibles alongside her ornamentals or not . I only eff that I had her thinking about it . prove once again that no yard is safe around me . I ’m all right with that .

I can only go for that when my dog come up his leg and relieve oneself on her azaleas that it was n’t a deal - breaker .

hunky-dory Gardening recommend production

Planting in a Post - Wild World : Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes

Fine Gardening receive a commission for item purchased through links on this site , include Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs .

Ho - Mi Digger - Korean Triangle Blade

Corona ® Multi - Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel

Get our latest tip , how - to articles , and instructional videos sent to your inbox .

sign you up …

Grow More Food in Small Spaces

How to Use Mulch in Your Garden or Landscape

Blueberries as Edible Landscaping

13 Smart Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Start a Garden

Join Fine horticulture for a free hire live webinar have Dr. Janna Beckerman , a famed plant pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals proficient manager …

When I descry a picky moxie clam cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I knew I was in worry . With a delicious color pattern …

When we only prioritize plants we want over works our landscape painting needs , each season is filled with a never - terminate list of chore : pruning , pinching , watering , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you accede the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re probable to activate on something , but because you might be dive - bomb by a pair …