Using Edibles in Landscape Design

When designing I like to incorporate edibles for my clients if there is not already a dedicated space for this in their garden. Smaller yards certainly benefit from this, but any garden will be well served by substituting some ornamental plants for edibles.

If you are just beginning your garden or have some open space in the landscape it's great to plant some fruit bearing trees. A hardy fig, pear or native Pawpaw are fantastic options. Most fruit bearing trees will need more than one plant for cross pollination so you would need to plan for that in your space.

Another option is adding shrubs within the landscape that will provide fruit. There are many options for blueberries, raspberries and elderberries. You can substitute these anywhere you would plant a spirea, forsythia or weigela. Some varieties of blueberries and strawberries are compact and well suited to grow in containers on your patio if that is your preference.

If you don't want to invest in trees and shrubs, herbs and small vegetables are easy to work into your garden space. I often plant sage, edible chives and groundcover thyme for my clients along with potted herbs to create a kitchen garden for them throughout their yard. A vining dwarf pea plant has beautiful foliage and works in most small gardens. Incorporating smaller vegetable plants in flower beds is easy and well worth the space.

When it comes to edibles in the landscape, experiment and don't be afraid to think outside the norms of design. You may find you start on a smaller scale and end up with a genuine food forest throughout your yard that will provide more that just beautiful flowers and foliage.