Landscaping You Can Eat
Each year millions of people have been adding tomatoes to their yards to save money on produce during the summer months. Believe it or not, there are many edible plants that you can add to your landscaping as well. A variety of trees, plants and even some weeds are suitable for eating and will add to the look of your landscaping. Fresher fruits and vegetables will not only look great in your lawn, but they are better for you as well. Fresher fruits have a higher fiber, vitamin and antioxidant content. Growing a salad right in your yard is both rewarding and nice to look at. It also puts you in charge as to what your food is exposed to in terms of fertilizer, pesticides and other chemicals. Growing your own produce can also be very environmentally friendly because your food does not have to travel to get to you. In other words, you are reducing your carbon footprint by growing your own fruits and veggies. A garden that adds to your landscaping is not only good for you; it is good for the planet as well.
Fruit trees are a good choice for adding edible plants to your yard. You can enjoy the tasty fruit that the tree produces and most fruit trees also bloom annually. One important rule to bear in mind with fruit trees is that you cannot leave fruit to die on the vine, as this can make the tree unfit the following year. Keep in mind that if you cannot use all of the fruit, there are plenty of other people that you know that would appreciate it.
Peppers and tomatoes grown in pots and on trellises add volume and color to any porch. Herbs grown in flower beds give off pleasant aromas but may discourage many insects and pests. Mint, dill and rosemary are all known to fend off bugs from many other vegetable plants and flowers, too. When you pull a few handfuls of mint for your drinks, damage a leaf or two on the plant to fully discharge its fragrance. Herbs may also enhance the soil in which they are planted. Unite flowers and vegetables with particular herbs to receive the best results. For instance, tomatoes combine well with parsley while chives and sage do well when mixed in with flowers.
There are several plants that are suitable for eating that you may not have considered trying. Most flowers can be eaten. Nasturtiums are a good example of a plant that is completely edible. Though they taste like peppers, all parts of the plant can be eaten. Lavender has a sweeter taste. Dandelions are also edible. Coffee can be made from the roots, while the flowers can be used for tea or wine. You can also boil the leaves and serve them as a spinach type of dish. Another innovative thing to do with edible flowers is to use them as garnishes for your dishes. One cautionary note is that if you are not sure what pesticides and other chemicals may have been used on the plant, then do not use it as a garnish. Also, some flowers have laxative properties, so it is advisable to not eat too many. As you plan your landscape, be creative and add edible plants to your yard.
The Author:
April Walters is a real estate expert. She writes articles that will help her clients and others to understand the ins and outs of the business, so they know what to expect. She gets many of her leads from the real estate web pages designed for her by Dynamic Page Solutions.
