Transform Edible Plants
into Works of Art with Four Design strategies
Somewhere in the history of our gardens, vegetarian gardens have risen to the top. They are called ugly horticultural ducklings, and ornamental plantings are called swans.
Borrowing design policies used in ornamental gardening,
these goals are easily achievable. Colorful flowering plants, eye-catching
fences, and crisp edges are just a few of the details that can turn an ordinary
vegetable garden into a masterpiece.
Plant in Blocks of Color
Instead of beautiful plants in one bed and edible plants in the other, mix them for attractive plantings.
The idea of combining
edible and ornamental gardening is certainly not new. One of the most natural methods to dazzle the eye
in this setting is to add flowering ornamental plants to the mix and play
with color.
with color.
When choosing a mixture of plants, I want options that offer a wide variety of colors and textures. I like to cover the ground with colorful edibles that are also ornamental, such as blue-green cabbage, purple basil, and golden sage. Arranging planting is the most practical way to approach edibles, so I plant these colorful highlights in blocks to create a beautiful patchwork-like tapestry.
Create Decorative Boundaries
When it comes to your garden, a stylish fence is a finishing touch for an intimate setting.
As the color was part of the new gardens, so is the body
element. Medieval gardens were often designed with a simple wicker fence to
distinguish between the main boundaries of the garden. Simultaneously, the
monastery gardens were fenced off to mark a place of beauty, meaning, and
meditation. By obtaining this ancient design strategy, you can turn your
vegetable garden into an outdoor hideout. The enclosure creates a close scale
for the garden, establishing a sense of privacy and respite, setting
boundaries, and maintaining a focus within the garden.
The best aviaries work with their environment. A wrought iron fence works well for a backyard garden in an urban environment, and a picket fence will work well with many styles. When building a stone wall, choose local materials - like limestone in the Midwest or granite in the East - for a timeless, permanent vegetable garden.
When it comes to using plants as boundaries, the options are endless. Espalier apples or pears can be trained to grow on a brick wall or wire fence for a sheer effect. Boxwood hedges, a lot of blueberries, and a row of currants are just a few of the other hedge options. I find tall perennials and annuals, like ornamental grasses or space, to be great for creating privacy screens with seasonal interest. Be sure to keep annuals and perennials separately in your garden to make it easier to handle and fix your annual beds.
Primp Bed Edges and Pathways
For gardeners who plant in raised beds, edging or soil-holding materials are needed to hold the soil in place. However, even if you're not planting in raised beds, edging is a great way to add a sophisticated look to your ground-level plantings. It defines where the base begins and ends and gives the scene a crisp, neat look. Edges can be brick, granite cobblestone, wood, or steel. Use your imagination; consider, for example, rustic logs stacked on end for a whimsical effect.
Paved paths are another feature that can give the garden an attractive look. Paving wood chips or rubble paths will refresh the landscape and make visitors feel invited to explore. Not only do granite and brick fit the edges, but they can also brighten your walkways. Make sure your aisles are wide just for a wheelbarrow. Other than that, there is no limit.
Whatever materials you choose for curbs and paths, make sure they complement your home and your entire garden. Stone or cobblestone is an excellent choice for formal architecture, while wood goes well with informal styles and furnishings.
Color also plays an important role. Be sure to select materials that match the color scheme of your home.
Plant Them Close Together
I will be the first to receive that I am an impatient gardener. When I plant my summer containers, I place the plants close together to give me an immediate kick. Planting flower beds in your garden is like large containers, so don't be afraid to plant closer than the seed bags recommend to minimize skips. I plant the plants so that the tips of the leaves almost touch the leaves of the next plant at maturity. This approach uses plants as live mulch to kill weeds. This makes the garden more lush and beautiful because you see more color and less bare soil.
Besides a snug fit, consider changing your planting pattern. Instead of arranging the crops in perfect rows, arrange the seedlings in a triangular pattern to fill the garden with a mass of color. Carrots, beets, lettuce, leeks, onions, and garlic can be planted close to each other. As the plants mature, I thin out all the others to eat at the nascent stage and leave the rest to pass to full size. Inevitably, you will want to eat edible foods in your garden that will leave unsightly holes. To fill in the gaps, plant seeds of fast-growing crops like radishes, lettuce, and basil. The garden will instantly become full and lush.
