Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/139414
Sustainable Solutions | foliage Edibles for Every Landscape BY ARRICCA ELIN SANSONE Fruits and veggies are more than just good for you: They're good for your business. Y ou might not think cucumbers are cuttingedge or tomatoes are trendy. But a new movement in landscape design is evolving. Edible plants are no longer tucked away in a vegetable garden behind the garage. With the introduction in recent years of cultivars that offer improved growth habits and forms, many edibles can serve as stand-alone specimens that make attractive additions to the landscape. Typically, new edibles are developed to be hardier and more disease-resistant than old varieties. Many are more compact, so they fit comfortably in tight spaces or in containers. In certain parts of the country, such as California and Florida, combining edibles with ornamentals is increasingly common. In fact, some municipalities request edibles be incorporated in designs when bidding on jobs. With food-safety scares and an increased awareness of the need for sustainable landscapes, there's also more focus on eating local. "What could be more local than your own backyard?" says Diane Blazek, executive director of All-America Selections, an independent non-profit organization that tests new plant varieties and selects annual winners. "People have greater expectations nowadays, even for plants. We want plants to look good, attract pollinators, use little water and if we can eat them, too, that's even better." Adding edibles doesn't have to be an all-ornothing approach. To whet your client's appetite, mix edibles with ornamentals in containers or as an accent in the overall landscape. In the commercial setting, consider adding edibles to curbside containers, restaurant gardens and outdoor employee break areas. The hidden benefit: You set yourself apart from the competition by offering a creative, unexpected, yet practical use of space. Consider these recently introduced edibles to spice up your landscape designs. J U LY 2013 TLC0713_Foliage.indd 25 TotalLa nd s ca p e C a re . c o m 25 6/21/13 1:22 PM