Posts Tagged: landscaping

Edibles in Your Landscape

The concept of edible landscaping has been growing in popularity for the last few decades.  It proposes that we integrate edible plants into our regular landscape design and plantings.  Its proponents argue that since plant-able soil is at a premium for many people, using all our space makes sense.  They also point out that in addition to helping us eat healthier by growing some of our own fruit  and vegetables, many of these plants are downright pretty.

I found myself on the flip-side of edible landscaping the last few years. I have two raised beds, six by six feet in my back yard that I have grown herbs and vegetables in for years.  Several years ago I bought some dahlia tubers at the San Francisco Garden Show. When I got them home, I realized I didn't know where I could plant them.  Front and side yards all had established plantings that weren't amenable to some potentially four foot neighbors. I decided to put them in the very back of my raised vegetable beds.  Over the years, I got a few more varieties.  I thought the foliage and flowers made a nice backdrop for my vegetables.

Then I saw some corms for the most beautiful two-toned gladiolas.  I tried a few in the front yard but they kept getting blown over by the wind.  The backyard seemed my only solution.  I reasoned that since the leaves were tall but slender I really shouldn't have to worry too much about shading out my vegetables.  I planted them in a big line right across the front of both raised beds.

The first year was beautiful and my plan worked well.  Gradually though the gladiolas multiplied and I found myself with a thick wall of foliage last year.  I tried pulling the foliage to each side of the tomatoes to try and let some sunlight in, but it was the worst year for tomatoes I had ever had.

After growing season, I dug up the gladiolas, gave some away and replanted some farther back in the bed in little clumps not solid rows.  When it came time to put in the tomatoes this year, I placed them on the edges and right in front. This year the tomatoes are doing much better.

Just to let you know I am a firm believer in edible landscaping.  In other parts of the yard I have a fig, a crabapple and an olive tree.  I have pomegranate and pineapple guava shrubs and some smaller blueberry bushes. I have artichoke, and lavender plants and some herbal plants and ground-covers. 

I love food and I love flowers.  As long as we can give them the soil, the light, and the water they need, they will get along just fine.

Gladiolus and tomatoes. (photos by Karen Metz)

Glads and broccoli and kale.

From Roses to Relaxed, a blog in several parts

My husband and I moved into our home eleven years ago.  We really liked the location and the front and backyards were already landscaped, a big benefit since we were both working and commuting at the time.  The irrigation system was already in so my husband only had to tweak the system or replace parts that got run over by the lawnmover from time to time.  We had a basic gardening service take care of the lawn and trim the hedges so we didn't give it much thought. It was pretty and green.

A few years down the road and we both agreed that it would be nice to have some rose bushes.  So we shopped for roses on the weekends and found spots in the back garden for our new treasures.  Of course, we choose our roses by color, fragrance, and size.  My earlier experiences with roses had been rather lucky.  I had planted bush roses that bloomed and thrived in the East Bay climate with virtually no pests or diseases.

We were happy with our beautiful roses and as we ran out of room in the backyard, we decided to remove one of the lawn mow strips in front yard and plant some more roses.  These new roses would benefit from the daylong full sun exposure with the south west orientation;  something we were beginning to realize might be a problem with some of the shady backyard planting areas.  We had a dedicated rose bed encircled with tree roses which were doing very well until I decided to plant a cute little fig tree in the vacant middle part of the bed. A couple of years later the fig had to go, as it grew up it provided a little too much shade and attracted the squirrels, much to the chagrin of our two large dogs. (to be continued on October 12)

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