Now before your front yard becomes a pumpkin patch I have a
few recommendations.
One, don’t plant in a location that has been inundated with
chemicals and if you dig up some lawn add some new soil/compost into the area
before planting.
Two, certain plants like gourds or even tomatoes start to look
a bit peaky towards the end of the season and may not remain the gorgeous
greenery you had envisioned.
Three, if you run out of room or are renting, note
that many crops (especially smaller varieties) can be planted in pots. So even
if your front yard is the size of a closet you can still garden.
Four, some
cities frown on such things as front yard raised beds and a fence lined with
blackberries, but as far as I know the foothill cities do not have an
ordinances against front yard food practices. But just to be sure, check with
the city you live in and see what they allow.
Five, if you’re worried about
people plundering your harvest, plant closer to your residence rather than near
the street.
Our yard will become a smörgåsbord this summer. I snuggled
six heirloom tomato plants in between various peppers and herbs. Pole beans sit
near a line of roses and potatoes occupy two pots. The carrots are in a pot on
the porch and garlic surrounds the small apple tree near the street. Corn is in the corner and jalapeno peppers pop out from among the fence roses. Lettuce is
in a few spots along with onions and more garlic. But driving by, you probably
wouldn’t think twice if it wasn’t for the tomato cages. Why? Because the
veggies are joined by a variety of perennial and annual flowers. That’s the
beauty of front yard gardening. You reap the benefits of having a garden even
if it doesn’t look like your standard garden.
That’s not to say you couldn’t have raised planting beds or
a row garden out front just for crops. Do that too! You can border the beds
with grass, roses or lovely flowering plants. Combine your crops with native
plants or others that attract beneficial insects and pay attention to the rules
of companion planting. Find a design
that works for you. And remember that just because you want to grow edibles out
front doesn’t mean your yard can’t/won’t look good too!
If you want to completely transform your yard, many are
chucking the grass and standard shrubs and creating lovely food forests. Look at some of these yards below and you can see just how lush and lovely they can
be. These yards incorporate the principles of something called permaculture,
which is homesteading at its best.
So whether it’s a single porch pot or a complete front yard transformation
think about incorporating edibles into your front yard. You’ll be glad you did.
Better Homes and Gardens
Better Homes and Gardens
Better Homes and Gardens
Gorgeous gardens! And your own garden looks just as lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you Amy! And thank you for visiting!
ReplyDelete