There are many reasons why many Americans have decided to dedicate a portion of their outdoor living space to growing food. While edible gardens require dedication and several hours of work, the payoff is immense, giving you a summer’s worth of healthy, fresh produce. Incorporating these homegrown crops into your meals not only increases your nutrient intake, it gives you a strong sense of pride and accomplishment. Your Milwaukee and Menomonee Falls landscaping experts at American Landscape have deep expertise in plant care – we love to encourage our clients to start an edible garden at their home, and we provide valuable advice about how to get started.
As Americans continue to improve their eating habits, and many of us opt for organic, responsibly-sourced food, edible gardens make more and more sense. These plants are grown on your terms, harvested by you, and only take a short trip from your backyard to your kitchen. Many homeowners may look at the large lawn and recognize its inefficiency; consider a better use of your soil, water, and nutrients and use it to grow healthy food for your family.
While it’s easy to come around to this idea, it’s more of a leap to actually get started. Many would-be backyard farmers simply don’t know where to start. First, it’s important to find a sunny spot for your garden. Most edibles want “full sun,” or about six hours per day of good quality sunlight. Spend some time paying attention to your lawn at various times of day, and note spots with southern exposure, as they tend to do well. Also, find an area that is somewhat protected from the wind, as heavy wind can cause damage to growing crops.
Your next consideration is the soil. If the soil is your garden area is excessively sandy, or if you have clay soil, you may have to spend some additional time to amend the soil and get it ready for growing your edibles. You may also consider having your soil tested for pH and contaminants to be sure that the soil is appropriate for growing. Many old neighborhoods in our area may have issues with lead in the soil from old paint, so those homeowners, in particular, may wish to test their soil. If all else fails, raise it up! Build garden beds, or try one of the many raised growing methods such as hay bale gardening. A quick search online will turn up many articles about alternative methods for growing edible plants.
Your experts at American Landscape have a wealth of knowledge in gardening, landscaping, and all aspects of outdoor living. Contact us today and we’ll help you get started on your way to healthy, home-grown edible plants.
Contact us today!
We are masters in landscape management and have been serving Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin since 1973. Our design experts are standing by to build you a stunning outdoor living space today. Contact us today on our website or call us at (262) 252-4260 to get your project started!
