What is Edible Landscaping?
Edible landscaping, at first glance, can feel like a wild idea.
You might be picturing your lawn overtaken by messy, weed-filled gardens. Raised beds and trellises lay ramshackle everywhere. Your favorite peony bushes have been ripped out and unceremoniously tossed aside.
And sure… you could do that.
But it’s absolutely not necessary.
Like any type of landscaping, edible landscaping comes in a wide range of forms and functions. It can be tailored to your space, your lifestyle, and your personal preferences. In reality, it’s far more flexible - and far more beautiful - than most people expect.
In this post, we’ll break down what edible landscaping actually is… and just as importantly, what it doesn’t have to be.
A Simple Definition
At its most basic, edible landscaping is the practice of designing a landscape that includes edible plants.
Often, these plants are chosen for both their edible qualities and their ornamental value - resulting in a landscape that’s a feast for your eyes and your belly.
But the key word here is design.
As with any landscape plan, edible landscaping works best when it’s designed intentionally - taking into account how plants grow over time and how you use your space. A well-designed edible landscape should make your life easier and more enjoyable, not add stress or unnecessary work.
Let’s Clear This Up Right Away
Edible landscaping is not an all-or-nothing endeavor.
You don’t need to tear out all of your grass.
Your favorite perennials can stay right where they are.
And you absolutely do not need to add an annual vegetable garden if growing veggies isn’t your thing.
Edible landscaping is about adding what you want, not taking away things you already value in your yard.
What Does Edible Landscaping Actually Look Like?
Edible landscaping can take many forms, including:
Fruit trees instead of ornamental trees
Blackberry or raspberry hedgerows along property borders
Berry bushes used as foundation plantings
Herbs tucked into existing perennial flower beds
Vining fruits climbing trellises for structure and visual interest
Edible groundcovers like oregano or strawberries
Many people already have elements of edible landscaping in their yard without realizing it - they just haven’t connected the dots yet.
Why Design Matters
When incorporating edible plants into your landscape, design is key. Three main considerations should guide your decisions:
1. How You Use Your Space
Take lawns, for example. If you’re raising a team of tiny soccer players, a large open lawn might be a priority. But if you rarely use that space (and you resent mowing it), adding garden beds or edible plantings could be a much better fit.
2. How Much Maintenance You’re Willing to Do
Many edible plants are surprisingly low-maintenance. Once established, most fruit trees and berry bushes require little more than annual pruning.
That said, it’s important to be honest with yourself. If you truly want minimal involvement, plant choices should reflect that. Good design matches plants to your tolerance for upkeep.
3. Your Aesthetic Preferences
Whether your style leans clean, modern lines, cottage-core, or somewhere in between, it’s important to identify that before planting.
Planning ahead isn’t just easier on you - it’s better for the plants, too. While many perennials can be transplanted, frequent moving can slow their establishment and growth.
Together, these considerations help determine not only where plants go, but which plants belong in your landscape in the first place.
A Spectrum, Not a Rulebook
Edible landscaping lives in a wide grey area - there’s very little black and white.
You want one herb garden to liven up summer meals? That counts as edible landscaping.
A couple of fruit trees dotting your lawn sounds nice? Also edible landscaping.
A yard full of ornamentals with a few berry bushes mixed in? Still edible landscaping.
There’s no required quantity that makes your edible landscape “count”. Edible landscaping is simply whatever amount works best for you.
Who Is Edible Landscaping a Good Fit For?
Edible landscaping tends to work best for people who:
Enjoy eating fruits or vegetables
Like spending some time in their yard
Are interested in growing at least some of their own food - whether to avoid sprays or to grow unique varieties not found in grocery stores
On the flip side, edible landscaping may not be a great fit if you:
Want zero maintenance
Expect instant results
Strongly dislike being outside
Knowing what edible landscaping is makes understanding why you might want it much clearer.
In the next post, I’ll dive into the many reasons people choose edible landscaping - and why it’s becoming an increasingly popular approach to outdoor design.