Edible Landscaping: Three Things to Know

by | Aug 12, 2024 | Landscape

Another post-COVID landscaping trend, edible landscaping and the self-sufficiency it provides, has been steadily growing in popularity. Homeowners enjoy growing their own food and have found ways to do so even in outdoor living areas, indoor spaces, and urban environments. If you’d like to test your green thumb this season, here are three important things you should know about growing and maintaining edible landscapes. Diverse plant selections are crucial for successful edible landscaping. Diverse Plant Selection for Edible Landscaping Incorporating edible landscaping into your space has two main purposes: making your garden more functional and attractive. Many people include fruit trees, berry bushes, herbs, and vegetables in their gardens to do this, but it’s crucial to note that you should avoid growing just anything. For one thing, the food you choose to grow should be able to thrive in your local climate. This will increase your plants’ yield and ensure that none become diseased or die. It’s also important to consider companion planting. This is the method of growing compatible plants together to deter pests and improve yield. A classic example is growing tomatoes next to basil, which enhances growth and flavor. In general, planting certain herbs is a natural deterrent and can be used with regular flowers, too. But it is especially important when planting food–imagine doing all that work just for some wildlife to come along and eat it before you can. Edible Landscaping is All About Sustainability While edible landscaping promotes sustainability, sustainability also promotes edible landscaping. Edible landscaping encourages landscaping methods such as organic gardening and composting, as it’s healthier to use fewer chemicals on your food and easier to dispose of organic waste by putting it to good use. Using organic methods reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, nurturing a healthier ecosystem overall. People who practice edible landscaping tend to practice sustainability and vice versa. Overall, edible landscaping makes for a powerful mindset and lifestyle shift. Watering practices like rainwater harvesting or drip irrigation support healthier plant growth. Incorporating water conservation practices into your edible landscaping makes your entire lifestyle more sustainable and opens your eyes to the landscaping opportunities that sustainability provides. Edible landscaping is sustainable in itself. It creates a mini, self-sustaining ecosystem, attracts pollinators and other beneficial wildlife, provides humans with a more susta inable way of acquiring food, and promotes and protects native edible plants, which increases overall biodiversity. This is particularly helpful in urban environments, as they typically struggle to nurture healthy microbiomes. Edible landscaping requires planning and maintenance. Edible Landscaping’s Required Planning & Maintenance Like any other type of landscaping, edible landscapes require planning and maintenance. To maximize the harvest, it’s essential to plant seasonally appropriate crops. If you choose plants that produce at different times of the year, you will always be growing something. It’s crucial not to forget your crops in the off-season; planting cover crops during this time improves soil health and structure while preventing erosion and weed growth. Regular maintenance is also crucial, especially when planning to eat what you grow. Pruning, weeding, and soil testing will ensure your edible landscape stays healthy and productive. You may find that your local soil is better for certain plants or that pruning specific plants more frequently promotes more growth later in its season. Additionally, edible landscaping reduces the need for other property management needs like lawn maintenance. Hydroponic Systems There are still ways to grow edible gardens if you live in an urban area or a space with a smaller yard. Hydroponic systems are smaller gardens that can be indoors or outdoors. They use a nutrient-rich water mixture to grow your plants instead of soil. The water solution is reusable, and your plants require little to no fertilizer or other chemicals to support their growth, making this a sustainable method. Plus, you’re able to experiment with growing conditions like pH, water, and sunlight, and you’re able to grow crops year-round. Conclusion By understanding these aspects of edible landscapes, you can create a beautiful and productive garden that provides food and supports biodiversity from anywhere. And it’s easier than you thought, isn’t it? You don’t have to be a plant guru to plant successful plants or grow an edible landscape–you just have to be willing to learn a few landscaping methods.