Why choose between a beautiful yard and a productive one when you can have both? Edible landscaping blends ornamental beauty with the practicality of growing food, transforming your outdoor spaces into stunning, functional gardens. Whether you're planting a new bed or refreshing an old one, here are actionable tips and plant suggestions to help you create a thriving edible landscape in Zone 7b.
1. Start with a Plan
Edible landscaping works best with a clear design. Begin by identifying the "light zones" in your yard. Note which areas receive the most sunlight, for how many hours, and during which parts of the year. Seasonal changes often shift light availability, with areas that bask in spring sunlight possibly becoming shaded by summer's leaf canopy.
Consider the natural flow of your yard, including pathways and focal points. Mixing edibles with ornamentals ensures year-round visual interest and a consistent harvest.
Quick Tip: Create layers in your landscape. Position taller fruiting plants at the back, medium-height shrubs in the middle, and low-growing herbs and vegetables in the front to achieve both beauty and functionality.
2. Choose Multipurpose Plants
Select plants that are as attractive as they are productive. Look for dual-purpose options that provide structure, flowers, or foliage alongside edible yields.
Fruit Trees: Dwarf varieties of apple, pear, and fig trees add height and spring blossoms while being easier to harvest than full-sized versions.
Berry Bushes: Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and honeyberries are hardy and colorful. For something unique, try elderberries, lingonberries, or serviceberries. Huckleberries, elderberries, and currants also offer a variety of fruits, harvest times, and ornamental interest with their varying foliage and flowers.
Herbs: Include culinary staples like rosemary, thyme, sage, and lavender to offer evergreen structure and culinary uses. As well as others to provide a seasonal resource that can be used and stored in a number of ways: basil, oregano, marjoram, parsley, cilantro, calendula, chives, garlic, fennel, catnip, betony, lemon balm, bee balm, hyssop, mullein, horehound, dill, echinacea, yarrow, comfrey, mint, chamomile, and so many more.
Vegetables: Ornamental vegetables such as Swiss chard, kale, and purple cabbage add vibrant hues, while squash and zucchini provide edible blossoms and fruit. Explore colorful varieties suited to Zone 7b for added flair.
Vining Plants: Use vertical space by growing passionfruit, beans, peas, cucumbers, or hardy kiwi along trellises or pergolas for a stunning display.
3. Incorporate Edible Flowers
Edible blooms add bursts of color and culinary value to your garden. Mix them into your borders, containers, or beds for both aesthetic and functional benefits.
Nasturtiums: Vibrant and peppery, these flowers are also pest deterrents.
Calendula: Cheerful and versatile, they’re great for salads or skincare.
Borage: Blue star-shaped flowers perfect for garnishes and teas.
Dianthus and Snapdragons: Add striking hues to your garden and your plate.
Roses: Fragrant blooms offer petals for teas, syrups, or desserts.
Cosmos, Dahlia, and Begonias: Delicious textures for your beds and salad.
4. Focus on Perennials
Perennial edibles minimize replanting and become permanent fixtures in your landscape.
Asparagus: A delicious springtime staple that thrives over decades.
Rhubarb: Lush leaves provide texture, while the stalks are tart and edible.
Artichokes: A bold architectural choice with beautiful blooms and edible buds.
5. Maintain Visual Appeal
Achieve harmony by blending textures, colors, and plant heights. Surround leafy greens with vibrant edibles like Swiss chard or companion plants like creeping thyme for ground cover.
Quick Tip: Use decorative mulch, stepping stones, or upcycled materials for pathways and borders to keep the design cohesive.
6. Extend Your Harvest
Zone 7b’s mild winters and long growing seasons allow for year-round gardening. Plan your planting schedule to maximize seasonal beauty and productivity.
Spring: Strawberries, cole crops, spinach, and early lettuces thrive.
Summer: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, onions, cucumbers, melons, and eggplants dominate.
Fall: Pumpkins, carrots, and cole crops bring warmth to the table.
Winter: Garlic, kale, and mustard greens ensure you’re never without a harvest.
7. Make It Sustainable
Edible landscaping is an opportunity to adopt eco-friendly gardening practices.
Companion Planting: Strategically pair plants to deter pests and enhance growth.
Water Conservation: Install drip irrigation or use rain barrels to hydrate efficiently.
Soil Health: Enrich your soil with compost and natural mulch. Consider comfrey leaves as green mulch to boost nutrients.
Recycling: Use upcycled materials like old wood or bricks for garden supports and pathways.
8. Enjoy the Results
Edible landscaping lets you connect with nature, enjoy fresh produce, and enhance your home’s curb appeal. It’s a rewarding way to make the most of your outdoor space.
Imagine a garden where blueberries line your walkways, peas climb elegant trellises, and kale creates a lush border. With careful planning and the right plants, your edible landscape will be both beautiful and bountiful.
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