Edible Landscapes

No matter how much food a row-planted vegetable patch provides, it's not the most aesthetic thing. Yet for all the work that goes into a flower garden, it isn't good for anything but looking at. But with the right selection of edible plants you can design a garden for both style and results.

Plant choice

Choosing a balance of trees and shrubs, flowers, ground covers and vines will not only keep the landscape balanced, but provide food all season long.

Trees
Most fruit and nut trees also bear flowers and produce bright autumn foliage. Even if you don't think you've got enough room for fruit trees in your backyard, dwarf varieties can be found to fit even small patios. Keep in mind, though, that for their fruit to ripend, most fruit trees require between 130 to 150 frost-free days.

Plums, such as Prunus blireiana offer pink flowers and purple leaves in spring, plums in late summer, and bronze-green leaves in autumn. Although showy, this is not the most prolific plum. Japanese plum (Prunus salicina) will produce more fruit but is confined to warmer regions. Different varieties of peaches blossom at different times with fruit coming between July and September. Double Red flowers earlier than the others do. The Red Globe variety produces idyllic looking peaches and comes in a dwarf size. Medlars (Corylus colurna), which produce peach-like fruit, offer pink-white flowers, rich autumn color, and grows in an attractive cone shape. Persimmons also produce fiery autumn color, as does pistachio, but both a male and female tree are needed to produce pistachios. Almond trees have a delicate white flowers. Depending your climate, space, and your goal with the tree (shade, focal point, source of fruit/nuts) apple, cherry, pear, walnut, and chestnut, citrus trees, and olives can also enhance the garden.

Shrubs
Blackberry and raspberry both offer flowers and fruit in abundance, but both require constant pruning back or they'll take over the whole backyard. Less ambitious shrubs include blueberries, currants, and gooseberries.

Vines
For vines with edible fruit, little can compare to the grape. The leaves add a classic beauty to the garden and the fruit comes in several colors. With so many varieties available, be sure to select one that's hardy in your region, as many grapes require a long growing season to ripen. Peas and beans also add a simple charm when trained on a trellis or arbor (a trellis bench with peas is ideal for those who like peas fresh from the garden). With some work, elderberries (Sambucus canadensis), cranberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.), blueberries and even blackberries can be trained on a trellis.

Groundcovers
Strawberries are the classic edible groundcover, with small white flowers in spring and berries following that. Creeping thyme (Thymus praecox arcticus) will work well as a groundcover between paving stones. Mint and wintergreen teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens) can also be used as ground covers.

Flowers and Herbs
Well, yes, you can eat roses, violets, and even dandelions but there are numerous other flowering plants that taste a little better. Sunflowers work well as accent pieces; strawberries can be used not only as a groundcover but planted to trail from pots, as well; and bunchberries (cornus canadensis) will create a small shrub. Kale, as a flower-shaped vegetable, can be grown in pots, window boxes, or planting beds with low flowers. Herbs' contribution is more obvious. With their varying shades of green, unusual leaf-shapes, scents that keep away garden pests, and culinary value, they're an asset to any style of garden. Chives, rosemary, thyme, basil, and ginger are also attractive.

Maintenance

If you plan to make your whole garden edible, avoid pesticides and check that the fertilizers you use are suitable for edible plants. You may also want to invest in some bird net to save your fruit. If you find you're having trouble with pests, companion planting methods can save your food plants without the use of dangerous chemicals. Visit Companion planting for more on these methods.

Outdoor dining

While a table and a few chairs or a picnic table is the easiest to put in, a gazebo or even a garden cooking area can give you more ways to enjoy the results of the edible landscape.