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If you are looking to create an edible landscape on a budget, planning is key. Taking the time to plan before you begin your project can help you avoid costly mistakes and ensure that your project stays within your budget. Here are some steps you can take to plan your edible landscape:
First, determine the size and location of your edible landscape. Consider factors such as available sun exposure, soil quality, and water availability. Choosing a location that is close to your home can also make it easier to maintain your plants and access your harvest.
Next, decide which edibles you want to grow. Consider factors such as your personal tastes, the growing conditions in your area, and the time and effort required to maintain each plant. Focusing on low-maintenance edibles can help reduce costs and increase your chances of success.
You should also consider the layout of your edible landscape. Using companion planting techniques can help you maximize space and reduce the need for costly fertilizers and pesticides. Planting taller edibles behind shorter ones can also help create a natural shading effect.
Once you have a plan in place, it can be helpful to sketch out a design of your edible landscape. This can help you visualize the layout and ensure that you have allocated space for each of your edibles.
By taking the time to plan your edible landscape, you can create a beautiful and functional outdoor space that is both budget-friendly and eco-friendly.
When planning your edible landscape, selecting low maintenance edibles is one of the best ways to save money. As an experienced gardener, I have found a few plants that are not only easy to take care of, but also budget-friendly.
Mint: This herb grows vigorously and comes back year after year. It can even be invasive in some areas, so it’s best to plant it in containers. Mint is perfect for teas, desserts, and garnishing.
Chives: Chives are a type of onion that grows in small, grass-like clumps. They are very easy to grow and can be used in a variety of dishes. Chives also have beautiful purple flowers that are edible and make a gorgeous garnish.
Garlic: Garlic is a staple in most kitchens and it’s surprisingly cheap and easy to grow. Plant individual cloves in the fall and by summer, you’ll have a whole head of garlic. Garlic can be used in almost any recipe and is great for your health.
Salad greens: Lettuce, spinach, and other leafy greens are some of the easiest vegetables to grow. They are perfect for beginner gardeners. They also provide a lot of yield in a small space. 2-3 plants of each will provide you with enough greens for lunches and dinners.
Tomatoes: Tomatoes are usually the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about a vegetable garden. They are high-yielding and versatile. You don’t need a lot of plants, 3-4 will do. Tomatoes can be eaten fresh, canned, or made into sauces.
By choosing these low maintenance edibles, you can be sure that you will have a successful gardening experience while staying on budget.
Companion planting refers to the practice of planting different types of plants together as a way to optimize the use of space and resources while reducing costs. For example, planting herbs with vegetables such as lettuce and carrots can help to repel pests that would otherwise attack the vegetables. In turn, the herbs benefit from the nitrogen released by the decomposing vegetables.
Another example is planting tall crops such as corn together with low-growing crops such as beans. The beans can climb up the cornstalks and provide shade to the soil, while the cornstalks can support the beans.
By using companion planting techniques, you can increase your yield and reduce the amount of time, energy, and money you spend on maintaining your edible landscape. Not only that, but companion planting can also help to create a more diverse and attractive garden.
Raised garden beds are a great way to get your edible landscape off the ground. By building a raised garden bed, you can save on the costs of constructing an in-ground garden plot.
Not only are raised garden beds less expensive than in-ground garden plots, but they have other benefits. They enable gardeners to control soil quality more easily, which is especially helpful if your soil is heavy in clay. Additionally, because raised garden beds require less bending over, they are more comfortable to work with, making maintaining your edible landscape more enjoyable.
There are many materials that you can use to construct a raised garden bed, and many of them can be found for free or at a low cost. For example, if you have leftover wood from a construction project, you can repurpose it to build a raised garden bed. You can also use rocks, cinder blocks, and other recycled materials to construct your raised garden bed.
In terms of design, there is plenty of room for creativity. You can choose the size and height of the raised garden bed to suit your needs and preferences, and you can even customize it to fit the style of your home and garden.
With a little bit of creativity and some elbow grease, building a raised garden bed can be a fun and affordable way to start your edible landscaping project.
Compost and fertilizers are essential for creating a flourishing edible landscape. The good news is that you can make your own fertilizers and compost for free, using organic waste materials from your household or garden.
To create compost, start by making a compost pile with a balance of “brown” and “green” organic materials. Brown materials include dead leaves, straw, and wood chips, while green materials include fruit and vegetable scraps, grass clippings, and other plant trimmings. Avoid adding meat, dairy, or oily food waste to your compost pile, as these can attract unwanted pests and slow down the composting process.
Once you have your compost pile, add garden soil and water to it and let it decompose for six to 18 months. If you’re not ready to start your edible landscaping project yet, you can still begin composting to prepare for it.
To make your own fertilizers, you can use household items like coffee grounds, eggshells, and banana peels. These items are rich in essential nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and calcium, which are essential for plant growth.
Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen and can be added directly to the soil around your plants. Crushed eggshells are an excellent source of calcium, which helps prevent blossom end rot in tomatoes and other plants. And banana peels are rich in potassium, which promotes flowering and fruiting in plants. To use banana peels, chop them up and add them to your compost pile.
By making and using your own compost and fertilizers, you can save money on store-bought products, while also using organic materials that are good for your garden and the environment.
When it comes to creating garden beds, trellises, and planters, there are plenty of materials that you can recycle to keep costs down. One of my favorite materials to use is old shipping pallets, which can be used to build raised garden beds or create vertical planters. Used tires can also be repurposed to create garden beds by stacking them and filling the center with soil. Additionally, old glass jars or plastic bottles can be used as planters, and pieces of scrap metal can be used to make trellises for climbing plants like tomatoes or cucumbers.
Aside from keeping costs down, using recycled materials in your edible landscaping also helps reduce waste and gives new life to items that would otherwise end up in a landfill. So not only will you be creating an affordable and visually stunning garden, but you’ll also be doing your part for the environment.
As important as water is for garden plants, too much or too little water can be detrimental to their growth. Therefore, it is crucial to observe proper watering techniques for your edible landscape. Here are some tips to help you conserve water while still achieving a flourishing garden:
Firstly, water your plants in the morning when the temperatures are still cool. This reduces water loss due to evaporation, allowing your plants to absorb moisture more effectively. Moreover, it minimizes the likelihood of diseases caused by excess moisture on leaves and flowers.
Secondly, use a watering can or a drip irrigation system to target the water at the base of the plants. This helps to avoid watering the surrounding soil or leaves unnecessarily, which can lead to inefficient water usage. Likewise, avoid overhead sprinklers, which can use up to twice as much water.
Thirdly, install a rainwater harvesting system to collect and reuse rainwater for your garden. You can place rain barrels around your garden to collect rainwater that would otherwise flow off your roof and into the ground. This can greatly reduce your need for tap water, especially during dry spells.
Finally, make sure you mulch your garden beds. Mulch helps regulate soil temperature and moisture content, which reduces the amount of water required by your plants. Additionally, it inhibits weed growth, which can compete with your plants for moisture.
By following these water-saving techniques, you can reduce your water usage and save money while still growing a bountiful edible garden.
In conclusion, I hope this post has helped you see that creating an edible landscape on a budget is not only possible but also hugely beneficial in the long run.
By following these tips, you can not only save money but enhance your landscape’s beauty and have fresh produce on hand all season long.
Which of these 5 budget-friendly ideas for edible landscaping are you planning to implement first?
I’d love to hear about it from you!
Feel free to send me a message and let me know how you plan to put what you’ve learned into practice.
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Your support will help spread the word about budget-friendly edible landscaping and inspire others to try it out for themselves.
Thank you for reading!
Author: Scott Sanders
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