Edible garden ideas are becoming more popular than ever, with more and more homeowners wanting to grow their own food.
This mindset has risen in popularity as more people want to know where their food originates from. Of course, you’ll want to do it in a way that allows you to enjoy your backyard—and your landscaping—to the fullest.
We’ve compiled a list of five errors to avoid while creating your edible garden to assist you.
Mistake #1: Lack of Planning
It’s easy to get so excited about planting an edible landscape that you just go out and buy plants right away. However, failing to plan your gardening can have long-term consequences for your plants and can spiral out of control. So, before you do anything else, draw or write out your vision. Make a map to help you understand what goes where and how to approach your entire project. You’ll be able to construct a highly suitable outdoor environment with it.
Mistake #2: Choosing the Wrong Seeds
The last thing you want to do is select plants that will not thrive in your particular environment. Take note of the outside temperature, season, soil quality, and other factors.
Plant spacing is a mistake that is related to plant selection. Make sure your garden isn’t too crowded. The key to an excellent edible landscape will be proper spacing.
Mistake #3: Getting Different Plants All at Once
It’s easy to become enthusiastic about the prospect of producing your fruits, veggies, and herbs when you’re visiting the local nursery. However, resist the urge to pick so many all at once. When your edible plants begin to grow and bloom, they will appear haphazardly, and it might make the landscaping in your garden look crowded and messy. This is a look you wouldn’t want for your yard.
Also, if you are a beginner, harvesting is considerably easier when plants are planted in bunches. Take a look at a strawberry patch. When the strawberries start to ripen, the patch will be covered in red berries. Harvesting is simple as you move from one plant to the next.
Mistake #4: Overlooking the Wildlife
You’ll attract many wild creatures, including deer, raccoons, rabbits, foxes, and even snakes, if you grow food in your garden. Make sure you include practical solutions for local animals as you plan your edible backyard landscaping. If you don’t, you won’t even be able to harvest and enjoy your plants. All your efforts will just go down the drain.
Mistake #5: Picking the Wrong Beds, Containers, and Soil
If you’re planting in an urban location, raised garden beds are an excellent choice for condominiums and rooftop gardens. If container gardening is a better fit for your area, make sure to select pots with enough depth and drainage. Finally, you should be aware that veggies require acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. A covering of pine straw on top of the soil might assist in raising the acidity. You may need to add mulch or sand to your soil, depending on the plants you want to grow.
Conclusion
Creating an edible garden may be a pleasant pastime that gives you something to do and provides you and your family with healthy food. However, you should be aware that this is not the same as the usual gardening of ornamental plants. To ensure that your plants thrive and taste lovely, you must take extra precautions and avoid these mistakes.
If you need an introduction to edible landscapes, Blossom & Broom offers many important tips through various blog posts tackling the topic. Check out our home category for more articles!
