Edible Landscaping
What’s for dinner? Something from your lawn?
According to the National Gardening Association, the hottest new trend in landscaping today is “edible landscaping.” That’s where you mix decorative flowers, shrubs and trees with plants you can actually eat.
Today, an estimated 30 million North Americans grow a vegetable garden. But until recently, most gardens were kept hidden away in the backyard. But that attitude is changing thanks to “edible landscaping,” which mixes garden plants with your flowers in ways that let you get more adventurous with your lawn and your diet.
For example: One man we read about recently added some pumpkin vines and corn to his front lawn. He says that way, the orange pumpkins will complement the purple asters and pink chrysanthemums that blossom each fall, and the yellow clumps of corn will add a different texture to the surrounding green grass. Other plants for that are big among edible landscapers include turnips, rhubarb, heirloom tomatoes, blueberries, mustard plants, and black pearl peppers.
One warning: Experts say edible landscaping is not for people who are low-maintenance because garden plants require more watering and weeding than flowers
By the way, some plant and flower combinations won’t work together because they require different soil conditions. Plus, every time you pick something to eat, there’s going to be a gaping blank spot in your yard to refill!
According to the National Gardening Association, the hottest new trend in landscaping today is “edible landscaping.” That’s where you mix decorative flowers, shrubs and trees with plants you can actually eat.
Today, an estimated 30 million North Americans grow a vegetable garden. But until recently, most gardens were kept hidden away in the backyard. But that attitude is changing thanks to “edible landscaping,” which mixes garden plants with your flowers in ways that let you get more adventurous with your lawn and your diet.
For example: One man we read about recently added some pumpkin vines and corn to his front lawn. He says that way, the orange pumpkins will complement the purple asters and pink chrysanthemums that blossom each fall, and the yellow clumps of corn will add a different texture to the surrounding green grass. Other plants for that are big among edible landscapers include turnips, rhubarb, heirloom tomatoes, blueberries, mustard plants, and black pearl peppers.
One warning: Experts say edible landscaping is not for people who are low-maintenance because garden plants require more watering and weeding than flowers
By the way, some plant and flower combinations won’t work together because they require different soil conditions. Plus, every time you pick something to eat, there’s going to be a gaping blank spot in your yard to refill!
