Little Pearl is proud of this edible herbal border, keeping pets and kids safe is another reason to go edible and non-toxic in landscape design
There is something particularly rewarding about walking out in the garden and picking vegetables and fruits that you have grown yourself. Holding a Tomato that is warm from the sun, bringing it inside, slicing it up with freshly harvested Basil, sprinkling it with Olive oil, and voila, lunch is served. What could be better than that?
But if the commitment of a vegetable garden is too daunting and yet you would like to grow some of your own veggies and fruits, there is something that you can do. Plant an edible landscape, or one that is partially edible!
Alpine Strawberries planted a top a rock wall make for easy picking!
Maybe you are a survivalist and want to be prepared for any eventuality. Perhaps you just want to impress your relatives from the East when they come to visit by going out in your garden in January and picking fresh Oranges for breakfast. Or maybe you like the idea of so deeply mingling with your garden that you want to ingest it as you walk through it. Whatever the reason, creating an edible landscape is a way to have a garden that is both beautiful and nourishing.
There are a number of different ways you can have an edible landscape, just add edible trees and shrubs to your existing landscape.
Where to start?
Sunflowers give your garden a cheerful note and food for the birds (and your family)
The most obvious place to start is to make a list of what you and your family like. Trees are a long-term project so start there. I think every garden should include at least one of each Lime, Lemon, Orange and Avocado. There are lots of different citrus. Pick what you like.
In our area there are so many fruit trees to choose from; Santa Rosa Plum, Apricot, Mulberry, Persimmon, Figs, Apples and even Pears work well. Tropical fruits like Bananas, Passion Fruit and Guava will work too. Yes, particularly if you live around Carpinteria, you can grow bananas!
If you think about what grows around the Mediterranean, you can imagine what will work here. Citrus of course, but also Pomegranate, Figs and Loquats. Macadamia trees grow like crazy in Montecito and Hope Ranch (just be sure you have a way to open them-the shells are really hard).
When it comes to edibles, you don’t really care about retaining a theme, just add the things you like.
This garden is full of edible flowers mixed in with greens of all sorts
Edible Hedges
Call me crazy, but I think it would be great to have an edible hedge and I am not suggesting that you start eating your Pittosporum. Bay Laurel, makes one of the most beautiful hedges, and it’s drought tolerant.
If you want a fruiting hedge, plant Guavas; Pineapple or Strawberry Guavas grown as a screen or hedge make a beautiful combination of texture and color. If you need an impenetrable hedge to keep out the neighbor kids (or the neighbors) Pomegranate. It has nasty thorns but beautiful fruit. I remember when I was a kid; there was a place that had a hedge of Pomegranate and in the fall when I was walking home from school I would always pick one to take home. Passion fruit is fast and is great to grow on a fence!
This Lemon arbor at Lotusland can be created with other types of fruits. Love this!
Fruit Arbors
How about a Lemon Arbor? Have you seen the one at Lotusland? This is something that anyone could do and the effect is spectacular. You could also use Lime, Pear, Apple or one of the fruiting vines, Grape or Passion Fruit.
This beautiful border is entirely edible, composed of Thyme, Lavender, Sage and Bay Laurel. Another reason to stay edible is to keep pets and kids safe.
Herbal Borders
Rosemary, Thyme and Oregano make a beautiful and edible border. Chives has a clover-like rose-purple flower that blooms in the spring and fall. Plant Italian parsley, Arugula and Basil in pots around the grill.
There are so many other ways to incorporate edibles into your garden, I love planting strawberries along the top of a rock wall, talk about grazing!
While we are on the subject of edible landscapes, it goes without saying that if you are going to eat out of your garden , don’t use pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
Still need some help? Schedule a Free Home Garden Consultation Today and we will get you moving in the right direction.
Until next time, Fill your garden with joy!
Chris and Lisa Cullen