Every spring, bright perennial shrubs and trees bloom around the country. We instantly feel giddy for the season ahead at this sight, excited to see color after a long, neutral winter. However, many of these blooms are short-lived, leaving your yard drab after bloom. 

Edible landscaping is a popular trend for busy families and avid gardeners who want higher rewards for their hard work. No matter your space or experience, we’ll show you how to grow nutrient-dense food while creating a beautiful, functional outdoor space. Transform your boring grass lawn into an oasis of food your neighbors will envy. 

What is Edible Landscaping?

Edible landscaping, or foodscaping, incorporates edible plants and trees naturally and functionally. This method of growing gets people thinking outside the traditional lawn and annual flower landscaping box. 

It’s also a creative way to produce more food while designing a beautiful space. You’ll support local pollinators, wildlife, and a healthy lifestyle. Don’t worry—your ornamentals can stay. Edible landscaping is meant to complement your favorite perennials rather than remove them. 

Benefits of Edible Landscape Plants

• Save money 

• Increased year-round beauty 

• Decreases food miles and fossil fuels 

• It’s eco and pollinator-friendly 

• Low-maintenance 

• More sustainable than traditional lawns 

• Practical and functional 

• Increased property value/curb appeal  

• Allows you to get creative. Change it up each season! 

• Easy to expand 

As you build an edible landscape of your own, you’ll see the benefits are endless. Growing edible landscapes encourages a healthier lifestyle. Plus, it will serve as a conversation starter and engage community members. Even the USDA is encouraging communities to foodscape. 

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating an Edible Landscape

1. Assess Your Yard

Before you head to your local nursery or start seeds, evaluate your space for sunlight quality and timing, soil health, and available space. Note sloped, sandy, wet, or shaded areas and plan accordingly. These are microclimates within your space. 

Identify existing plants you’d like to incorporate into your edible landscape and make plans to remove others. Donate them to a community garden or gift them to a friend. Before moving large plants or shrubs, research how they handle transplanting. 

2. Design Your Layout

The goal of an edible landscape is functionality and beauty. Select a layout that makes maintenance, watering, and harvesting enjoyable. For instance, avoid planting raspberries in large plots without pathways, which makes it difficult and painful to get to them. 

Use various colors and heights to add visual interest and texture. Here are four unique ways to add height:

1. Add grapes to a pergola for a unique focal point.

2. Build a simple fence. Add sugar snap peas and trailing nasturtium seeds along the base. Allow them to climb and grow densely for easy, functional privacy hedges. 

3. Use highbush blueberries to shape a walkway or separate garden sections. 

4. Plant edible amaranth, which can grow six to eight feet tall. It adds a whimsical feel to a garden’s backdrop. Add the seeds to oatmeal for a nutty flavor, and eat the leaves like spinach. 

Layer ground covers, annual vegetables, perennial fruit trees, and flowers. Think fruits, nuts, edible flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Keep your garden full so it’s fun and engaging. Covered soil also prevents weeds from germinating and soil from eroding.  

3. Choose the Right Edible Plants

Factors to Consider:

• Climate and growing zone: Choose plants that thrive in your zone rather than those at the edge of safety.

• Maintenance requirements: Pruning, soil pH management, pests, diseases, and winter protection

• Seasonal productivity for year-round yields: Avoid short-lived plants or those that need multiple successions each season. 

• Wildlife may feast on your plants: plant aromatic marigolds, lavender, and rosemary to deter deer from lettuce, cabbage, and broccoli. 

Examples of Edible Landscape Plants:

A food forest is a backyard food system that mimics natural plant growth. This ancient practice originated in the indigenous communities of Africa, Asia, and the Americas and became popular again in the 1980s. Food forests allow humans to easily maintain the plants while benefitting from their harvests. They typically contain one of each of the following. 

Combine your favorites from the categories above to create your food forest. Incorporate calendula, marigolds, and nasturtium with brassicas and leafy greens to repel pests and add color. Add mushrooms to the shaded forest ground as a bonus to this method. Oysters, shiitakes, and wine caps thrive in the moist forest floor environment. 

4. Planting and Maintenance Tips

Your design may change as you learn what works and what doesn’t. A customizable irrigation system will ensure it stays watered. Organic mulch will help the soil retain moisture and prevent weeds from germinating in empty garden spaces. 

Prune annually as needed to keep tree canopies open, create shape, and maintain health. Failure to prune decreases productivity and increases disease risk. Fill in gaps with easily accessible annuals like coleus and begonias. 

Rotate crop families and avoid tilling to keep the soil healthy. Add compost to add organic matter. Grow a round of cover crops like hairy vetch or buckwheat to bare soil if you don’t have an immediate plan. 

5. Keep It Practical and Low Maintenance

Overwhelmed by the thought of creating pathways, digging up sod, and replacing perennials with edible plants? Start small by adding containers, grow bags, and metal raised beds. These options give you a taste of edible landscaping with less permanence. Our bags are easy to move and come in various fun colors. 

Tips to grow an easy, edible landscape:

• Add perennials like rhubarb, asparagus, and Jerusalem artichokes for long-term growth.

• Align the plants’ hardiness to your region, climate, and elevation. 

• Embrace the power of companion planting to keep pests away and enhance growth.

• Support trees and shrubs to help them get established. 

• Keep ample records. 

Special Section: Small-Scale Market Opportunities

Do you have extra food from your edible landscape? Consider joining a local farmers’ market, setting up a farmstand, or donating the goods to your local food pantry or shelter. Turn your gardening hobby into a side hustle or a feel-good donation. 

Tips on successful marketing: 

• Display your goods to catch customers’ eyes. 

• Use locally grown and chemical-free fruits and berries to attract shoppers. Raspberries and dwarf peaches are quick to establish, high-yielding, and easy to maintain.

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  Bootstrap Tip

  A mix of summer- and fall-bearing berry varieties will ensure a constant supply.

• Bring value-added products to boost sales. 

• Use white or beige cloths and arrange products by color, making them pop off the table. 

• Make plenty of signs with descriptions and prices to make shopping easy. 

• Read more about setting up a market booth in this blog post.

• Approach local chefs and offer them edible flowers we think they’ll love. 

Take cuttings of plants like lavender, elderberry, mint, and fig trees to sell at the market. Highlight unique growing techniques like organic, regenerative, or no-till. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Edible Landscapes

How much maintenance does an edible landscape require?

The maintenance of your edible landscape depends on your space and the types of plants you selected. Perennials generally need less maintenance, while annual veggies need more frequent harvesting and attention. It’s best to start slowly as you learn how long it will take to care for your edible landscape. 

Can edible plants be as attractive as ornamental plants?

Absolutely! When done right, flowers, fruits, and veggies make an attractive garden landscape. 

What are the best edible plants for beginners?

Beginners should start with:

• Perennial, hardy herbs like sage and lavender

• Fruit bushes like raspberries that you can mow down at the end of the season 

• Annual vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, green beans, and green onions

• Flowers like nasturtium, marigolds, zinnias, and sunflowers

How do I design an edible landscape on a small property?

Containers and grow bags will be your best friend on a small property. Design your landscape around a central space or thing, like a watering hole for birds or a funky statue. Prioritize the items you absolutely want to add, like berries or rose bushes, and work around them. 

What are some common mistakes to avoid when starting out?

Some common mistakes when starting include: 

• Not testing your soil, it is crucial for getting a baseline of fertility 

• Overcrowding your space and getting poor results 

• Not mulching and leaving the soil bare 

• Over- or underwatering

• Forgetting to harvest

• Neglecting to control pests and disease 

Are there edible landscape plants that thrive in all climates?

Few plants can thrive across all zones, but many hybrids were bred to tolerate less-than-ideal conditions. Look for drought-tolerant options if you experience dry spells in the summer. Select hardy lettuce and tomato varieties that can tolerate temperature fluctuations without bolting. And choose shrubs, trees, and ground covers that don’t mind “wet feet” if you have heavy soils or rainy springs. 

How can I keep my edible landscape productive year-round?

Keep the soil healthy, make sure plants receive enough direct sunlight, and control weeds, disease, and pests. Compost and mulch each year to keep your soil healthy. Add a low tunnel for maximum protection from pests, spring frost, and heavy snow.

Which plants attract pollinators and beneficial insects?

Offering various sizes, shapes, and bloom colors attracts pollinators and beneficial insects. Small insects love sweet Alyssum. Bees will flock to buckwheat, goldenrod, bee balm, and Tulsi basil. Draw in butterflies with borage, milkweed, and cosmos. Check out our favorite edible flowers that double as visual appeal, companions, and possible pest deterrents! 

Is it possible to create an edible landscape with minimal water use?

Tips for a garden with low water needs: 

• Grow Mediterranean herbs like rosemary, sage, thyme, and lavender

• Choose drought-tolerant and slow-bolting varieties 

• Add drip irrigation on a timer to water during extreme heat or drought conditions

• Dwarf options typically need less water

• Grow shade-lovers in the understory of zucchini, squash plants, or along a fence line of pole beans.

• For an eco-friendly option, install a rainwater collection system

How do I balance food production with aesthetics in my design?

Plan, plan, plan. To avoid waste, focus on the vegetables, fruits, and herbs you love to cook with, like parsley and oregano. Experiment with new items that will perform well in your climate. Use the basics of the color wheel. Identify complementary colors to make your space practical and aesthetically pleasing.