Edible landscaping on a garden wall featuring vines, and espalier fruit tree, and low growing shrubs.

Landscaping doesn’t need to be limited to just ornamental plants. With an increasing interest in sustainable living and growing your own food, edible landscaping has become a hot trend among gardeners and homeowners. Edible landscaping is an excellent way to enhance your property’s beauty and functionality by adding edible plants to your yard.

It’s amazing how many edible plants can fit into a single yard, and the results can be absolutely stunning. To get started with edible landscaping, you need to familiarize yourself with the basics. And what better way than picking up a book? Here are seven must-read edible landscaping books to guide you on your journey toward a beautiful and bountiful landscape.

The Edible Landscape: Creating a Beautiful and Productive Garden with Vegetables, Fruits, and Flowers

The Edible Landscape by Emily Tepe is a comprehensive guidebook to edible landscaping. This book guides you through everything you need to know about creating a beautiful landscape filled with edible vegetation. With a step-by-step approach, the book teaches you how to plant, cultivate, and maintain fruit trees, berry bushes, vegetables, and edible flowers. The book also covers topics such as designing an edible landscape, creating an edible border, and using containers for edible plants.

Foodscaping: Practical and Innovative Ways to Create an Edible Landscape

Foodscaping by Charlie Nardozzi is a perfect guidebook for those who seek a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle. The book emphasizes the ecological benefits of edible landscaping, such as reducing carbon footprints, improving soil quality, and supporting wildlife. The book is full of innovative ideas for creating edible landscapes, from incorporating edible plants into traditional garden beds to building an edible lawn. In addition, the book provides advice on edible pest control and using edible plants for medicinal purposes.

A courtyard surround by pergolas covered in flowering vines, hanging baskets, and clumps of lemongrass.

Edible Landscaping: Now You Can Have Your Gorgeous Garden and Eat It Too!

Edible Landscaping by Rosalind Creasy is a classic book on edible gardening. The author is a well-known horticulturist, landscape designer, and food writer. The book provides valuable information for growing fruits and vegetables that are both beautiful and delicious. It also educates readers on companion planting, crop rotation, soil management, and pest control. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in edible gardening.

Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist: How to Have Your Yard and Eat It Too

Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist by Michael Judd is an inspirational and practical guidebook for those who are serious about transforming their property into an edible landscape. The book teaches you how to apply permaculture principles to design and create edible landscapes in urban, suburban, and rural settings. The book provides detailed information on plant selection, soil building, water management, and soil microbiology. The book also includes beautiful photographs and captivating illustrations that make it an enjoyable read.

A productive and beautiful corner of a garden filled with calendula, orach, wildflowers and cabbage.

The Beautiful Edible Garden: Design A Stylish Outdoor Space Using Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs

The Beautiful Edible Garden by Leslie Bennett and Stefani Bittner is a valuable guidebook for those who want to create a beautiful and functional outdoor space. The book provides a comprehensive guide on how to design an edible garden that complements your home’s architecture and style. The book covers everything from plant selection to garden design, making it an excellent resource for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.

The Edible Front Yard: The Mow-Less, Grow-More Plan for a Beautiful, Bountiful Garden

The Edible Front Yard by Ivette Soler is a book for people who want to create an eye-catching, yet productive front yard to greet their visitors. The book provides step-by-step instructions for growing a variety of edible plants that can be combined with ornamental plants to create a visually appealing garden. Ivette Soler also shares her extensive knowledge in landscaping and gardening, making it an excellent resource for beginners.

The Vegetable Gardener’s Guide to Permaculture: Creating an Edible Ecosystem

If you’re interested in permaculture, The Vegetable Gardener’s Guide to Permaculture by Christopher Shein is the perfect book for you. This book teaches you how to create a self-sustaining edible ecosystem that requires minimal maintenance. The book emphasizes the synergy between plants and animals that create a balanced and healthy ecosystem. The book covers topics such as soil regeneration, companion planting, animal husbandry, and seed saving.

A gardener picking chilies and enjoying a sunny day in the garden. Surrounded by an evergreen edge and raised bed full of herbs.

Edible landscaping is a fantastic way to enhance the beauty and functionality of your property while enjoying fresh, healthy produce. By reading these seven must-read books on edible landscaping, you’ll gain the knowledge and insight necessary to create a beautiful and productive edible landscape. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or an enthusiastic beginner, these books are sure to inspire you to create an edible landscape that is both beautiful and bountiful. 

Happy Gardening!

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