Are you planning to add a privacy screen or row of hedges to your home landscape? Why not throw tradition out the window? Instead of a row of clipped boxwoods or tall arborvitae, try a sustainable, edible hedge. Transform the old idea into a diversified border of small fruit and nut trees, berry-producing shrubs, and perennial herbs and vegetables.
Growing Hedges Made of Edible Plants
By making the hedgerow productive, it now is useful for more than one purpose. The food forest hedge can be staggered to incorporate more plant material, thereby increasing its sustainability. The variety of plants should keep the incidence of disease low, while attracting many beneficial insects to the hedge, as well as the whole yard.
Use edible hedges to separate garden rooms, provide a privacy screen or shade, create a living fence, or hide ugly structures. Be creative! They don’t have to be aligned with the edges of the property.
How to Make a Food Hedge
It’s easy and fun to design an edible hedge. Keep space in mind as you select plant material that will grow tall and wide. Trees should be small with low branches. Choose plants that are easily propagated to save money on replacements or filling in. Select plant material with thorns when creating a protective barrier.
Include perennial vegetables and herbs such as oregano, chives, rosemary, rhubarb, and artichoke. Perennials are preferred over annuals because they return year after year and require little maintenance or expense.
Suggestions for small trees:
Suggestions for shrubs:
For evergreen edible hedge plants in warmer climates, consider:
- Olive, zones 8-10
- Pineapple guava, zones 8-10
- Lemon guava/strawberry guava, zones 9-11
- Chilean guava, zones 8-11
- Oleaster, zones 7-9
The choices are many and varied; choose your favorite edible plants that do well in your climate. Then enjoy a low-maintenance food forest hedge!
-
Want a Backyard Mini Orchard? Create Your Own Container OrchardEasier to care for in small spaces, a backyard mini-orchard makes sense for busy gardeners and juicy fruit is the reward.
-
Urban Beekeeping Guide: Top Tips For Raising Bees In The CityUrban beekeeping can be a rewarding and appreciated pastime, but first be sure it’s legal in your city and learn the ropes of beekeeping.
-
How To Protect Fruit Trees From Frost And FreezeChoosing fruit trees appropriate for your growing zone is best, but you still may need to protect them from extreme cold. Read how.
-
Best Plants For Late Summer and Fall Fruit HarvestEven if you don’t have the optimal conditions for more common fruit trees, there are other end of summer fruits to enjoy.
-
Best Native Fruit Trees To Support WildlifeIf you want trees that will attract and feed wildlife, learn the best kinds of edible fruit and nut trees to plant for inviting specific creatures.
-
Orange Fruit Varieties: Growing Fruits That Are OrangeOrange colored fruit isn’t limited to the citrus orange. There are plenty of other orange colored fruit varieties, each packing a healthful punch. Read on for more.
-
Everbearing Plants: Learn About Everbearing Varieties Of FruitWhat does everbearing mean? And more importantly, how do everbearing varieties differ from non-everbearing types? Read on for more.
-
Plant A Red Fruit Garden: Growing Fruits With Red FleshPlanting a red fruit garden may seem a bit whimsical. That is, until you realize the health benefits of consuming fruits with red flesh.
-
Heat Tolerant Fruits - Growing Fruit In Hot WeatherSome fruit grows in extreme heat naturally. But there are also specially cultivated, heat-tolerant varieties. For more information on heat tolerant fruits, read on.
-
Yellow Fruit Varieties - Growing Fruit That Is YellowWhat fruit is yellow? There's more than the bananas at the supermarket. Try growing yellow fruit for a consistent supply of sunny food.
