Landscaping is a great way to bring color and life to your backyard. However, you are not limited to shrubs and flowers. Did you know that you can actually create an edible landscape? When you landscape with fruit trees, vegetables and herbs, you can create a beautiful outdoor space that not only looks good but tastes good, too!
Rather than simply planting your vegetables in the ground, create a series of decorative raised beds. A wood-chip or gravel-lined path can run between these beds, making the space both beautiful and efficient. While you want to be able to eat your landscape, you should choose vegetables based on how they taste as well as how they look. For example, pairing purple cabbage and white cauliflower together in large clusters will create a flowerbed appearance that is striking. Many vegetables also grow well and look beautiful in containers. For example, hot peppers ripen into beautiful, rich colors that look great mixed with annual flowers like marigolds. Did you know that you can even grow edible flowers? Nasturtiums and violas are just two examples of edible flowers that can brighten dishes.
There are many beautiful and edible tree and shrub options you can incorporate as well. Blueberries and currants are beautiful accent shrubs that also produce delicious fruit. Fruit trees will provide both shade and delicious food for your table. If you do not have room for a full-sized fruit tree, you could plant a new miniature or dwarf version. Some fruit trees have been created to grow only four or five feet tall and look great in large pots. For a dramatic look, consider growing vining vegetables up trellises as a back drop for flowers.
Many herbs can grow quite large and look beautiful in pots on a patio or around the garden. Rosemary is one of the most decorative herbs and can be cleverly shaped into a topiary design. Thyme is considered one of the best groundcovers for areas that are hot, sunny and dry. This makes it a great option for planting between pavers or flagstones; the plants will release a fragrance when stepped on. While you may think you should keep all your herbs together, they mix beautifully with flowers in pots, window boxes and even flower arrangements.
If you want to create a beautiful, yet efficient, outdoor space, the team at Juniper Landscape Company can help. We can design and implement a landscape that will meet all your needs. Whether you want raised beds or a patio transformed into a container garden, our skilled team of landscapers will provide it.