• Edibles are fresh and delicious, and are easily organically grown which minimizes the chemicals used in your landscape.
• Having a supply of fresh fruits and vegetables will help save on food costs.
• Drip irrigation is often utilized on vegetables and fruits.  This method will typically lower your water use and the amount of weeds in the landscape compared to using spray irrigation.
• Deciduous fruit trees, in the summer, can effectively cool the yard with the shade from their leaves.  Conversely, in the winter because the leaves have fallen, they allow for sunlight into the landscape.
• Unusual varieties of vegetables and fruits can be grown within the landscape which typically can not be found in grocery stores.
• Proper mixing of ornamental flowers with edibles can increase the protection of the edibles from garden pests such as insects.  For example onions can deter aphids from surrounding plants, marigolds can fend off snails and petunias can repel bean beetles.

• Gardening with edibles can be personally gratifying because it involves creating a landscape that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also delicious!

• Choose plants that are compatible with similar sun, soil, and water requirements.  Most edibles (but not all) need at least 6 hours of sunlight and deep infrequent watering.
• Amend the soil with organic matter such as compost to increase the fertility of the soil and to help ensure the proper nutrients necessary for fruit and vegetable production.
• Check with local nurseries or master gardeners to see if a pollinizer is required.  If so consider planting two of one species of each plant because many fruits and vegetables require another of its own kind nearby as a pollinizer in order to produce fruit.
• Research the amount of time required to maintain the plants.  Some edibles require more care than others.
• Plant fruits and vegetables that flower at different times throughout the year.  This way the garden will have flowers and fruit during all seasons.
• If space is limited, consider using dwarf varieties, plant in containers for small patios, train vines to grow over arbors and pergolas or espalier (prune flat) against a wall or fence.

Creative Small Space Solutions

Vertical Gardens

• Custom built vegetable boxes or shelves are a great way to maximize space. 
• Invest in a living wall system.  These walls will beautify your landscape immensely and are great for growing herbs and many types of vegetables and fruits.  www.eltlivingwalls.com 

                                             Gardening with Shelves           Living Wall System

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• There are many types of edible plants that will grow well in hanging baskets.  A creative way to maximize space is to grow vegetables upside down and then plant additional edibles on the top of the basket.  Tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, beans, and peppers can easily be grown upside down and then lettuce, radishes, carrots or many other edibles may be grown on top of them.  www.gardeningknowhow.com/urban/vegetables-grown-upside-down.htm

• Edible Landscaping by Travis Beck and Martin F. Quigley - ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1255.html
• The Edible Hedge: How to Have Your Yard and Eat it Too by Suzanne Weidmann - Earth Journal, February 1993
• Hanging Vegetable Garden by Nikki Phipps - www.gardeningknowhow.com/urban/vegetables-grown-upside-down.htm 
• Growing a Vertical Vegetable Garden by Nikki Phipps - www.gardeningknowhow.com/vegetable/growing-a-vertical-vegetable-garden.htm
• Edible Landscaping: Mixing Vegetables and Herbs with Flowers by Nikki Phipps - www.gardeningknowhow.com/vegetable/edible-landscaping-mixing-vegetables-and-herbs-with-flowers.htm
• Living Wall Planting Ideas - www.eltlivingwalls.com/planting_ideas.php