Speaker: Dr. Heather Kirk-Ballard, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Sustainable Urban Landscapes, University of Georgia
Webinar Date: January 16, 2025
Duration: 58:50
NARRATIVE SUMMARY
Dr. Heather Kirk-Ballard, recently joining the University of Georgia from Louisiana State University, presented a comprehensive guide to transforming traditional landscapes into productive edible gardens. Her presentation explored the integration of food-producing plants including fruits, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers into ornamental landscapes, emphasizing that this approach combines both aesthetic beauty and functional food production. Dr. Kirk-Ballard highlighted the environmental benefits of edible landscaping, including reduced food miles, decreased reliance on fossil fuel-supported agriculture, improved food security, and the mental and physical health benefits of gardening. She acknowledged that while edible landscapes can enhance sustainability, they require more intensive management than traditional ornamental plantings, including increased attention to fertilization, irrigation, harvesting, and pest management.
The presentation provided detailed guidance on site preparation and soil management, covering soil functions, physical components, structure, texture, and pH requirements for optimal plant growth. Dr. Kirk-Ballard emphasized the importance of soil testing and the strategic use of amendments including compost and organic matter to improve soil structure and water-holding capacity. She introduced water conservation strategies through hydrozoning—grouping plants with similar water needs together—and discussed efficient irrigation systems including drip irrigation, soaker hoses, and microtube emitters. Her discussion of mulching techniques highlighted pine straw as particularly suitable for vegetable production, while addressing concerns about nutrient binding with larger wood mulches.
Integrated pest management principles were thoroughly addressed, with emphasis on selecting well-adapted plant varieties, avoiding over-fertilization and over-watering, and utilizing cultural and mechanical controls before resorting to chemical interventions. Dr. Kirk-Ballard stressed the critical importance of reading pesticide labels when treating edible crops, particularly regarding harvest intervals and maximum application frequencies. She compared natural versus synthetic fertilizers, noting that while natural fertilizers like blood meal, bone meal, and compost are slower-release and less likely to damage plants, synthetic fertilizers provide immediately available nutrients with known nutrient content. The presentation covered food safety considerations, particularly when using animal-based fertilizers near harvest.
Dr. Kirk-Ballard dedicated substantial time to specific plant selections, discussing low-maintenance fruit species including blueberries (both rabbiteye and highbush varieties), cane berries (blackberries, boysenberries, and raspberries), citrus, figs, jujubes, persimmons, plums, pomegranates, apples, and peaches. She addressed common disease and pest issues for each category, including fire blight and codling moth on apples and pears, Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening on citrus, and peach leaf curl on stone fruits. Blueberries received special attention for their ornamental fall foliage, self-pollinating characteristics, nutrient density, and suitability for container growing. The session concluded with discussion of edible flowers and herbs including lavender, nasturtium, squash blossoms, violets, and chives, and a question-and-answer session addressing pomegranate cultivation challenges in Georgia.
YOUTUBE TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction and Welcome
1:12 Dr. Heather Kirk-Ballard Introduction
2:04 Presentation Begins: Edible Landscaping Overview
2:27 Definition of Edible Landscaping
3:04 Traditional vs. Edible Landscapes
4:00 Benefits of Edible Landscapes
5:06 Environmental and Health Benefits
6:20 Considerations: Increased Inputs and Maintenance
7:16 Historical Context: Kitchen Gardens and Parterres
8:09 Design Flexibility and Plant Diversity
9:17 Sun and Shade Requirements
10:22 Soil Management Fundamentals
11:00 Increased Time, Labor, and Fertilizer Needs
12:00 Annual and Perennial Crop Integration
13:00 Harvesting and Green Waste Management
13:46 Soil Functions and Physical Components
14:10 Soil Structure and Organic Matter
15:08 Soil Texture: Sand, Silt, and Clay
16:03 Soil pH and Nutrient Availability
17:05 Soil Management Considerations
18:20 Compost Benefits and Application
19:40 Raised Beds for Edible Production
21:10 Container Gardening Options
21:35 Hydrozoning for Water Conservation
22:09 Irrigation Scheduling and System Efficiency
22:52 Efficient Irrigation Systems Overview
23:18 Drip Irrigation and Soaker Hoses
24:05 Types of Drip Emitters
24:33 Water Conservation with Compost
25:00 Mulching Strategies for Vegetables
25:30 Pine Straw vs. Wood Mulch
26:00 Mulch Application Techniques
27:30 Landscape Fabric and Biodegradable Mulches
29:20 Proper Mulch Placement Around Trees
30:08 Integrated Pest Management Introduction
30:30 IPM: Selecting Adapted Species
31:05 IPM Approaches for Edibles
31:40 Beneficial Insect Identification
32:04 Pesticide Labels and Harvest Intervals
32:42 Example: Spinosad on Cucurbits
33:06 Fertilizer Management: Edibles vs. Ornamentals
33:40 Nitrogen Requirements and Side Dressing
34:00 Natural vs. Synthetic Fertilizers Comparison
35:18 Animal-Based Natural Fertilizers
35:56 Plant-Based Natural Fertilizers
36:10 Harvesting Principles and Timing
37:06 Food Safety Considerations
38:00 Crop Rotation and Planning
39:00 Selecting Edible Plants for Landscapes
40:00 Site Constraints: Utilities and Structures
41:00 Fruit Tree Spacing and Management
41:48 Low-Maintenance Fruit Species
42:25 Common Fruit Tree Problems
42:55 Disease Issues: Fire Blight, Citrus Greening, Peach Leaf Curl
43:15 Tree Size: Tall vs. Short Considerations
44:00 Planting Fruit Trees Properly
44:40 Graft Union and Crown Protection
45:24 Citrus Requirements and Cold Tolerance
46:00 Frost Protection Strategies
46:37 Using Citrus as Specimen Plants
47:22 Blueberries: Ornamental and Productive
47:40 Blueberry Pollination and Varieties
48:10 Blueberries in Containers
48:48 Harvesting Blueberries: Rabbiteye vs. Highbush
49:04 Cane Berries: Blackberries, Boysenberries, Raspberries
49:40 Trellising and Pruning Cane Berries
50:00 Using Cane Berries as Screens
50:20 Best of Both Worlds: Edible and Ornamental
51:00 Interplanting Benefits
52:00 Herbs in Edible Landscapes
53:00 Culinary Herbs: Rosemary, Basil, Thyme
54:00 Edible Flowers Overview
54:52 Lavender, Nasturtium, and Squash Blossoms
55:20 Mixed Containers with Edibles
55:40 Closing Remarks
56:00 Q&A: Pomegranate Cultivation in Georgia
57:00 Webinar Conclusion and Sign-In Instructions
58:00 Final Thank You and Closing
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q: What is edible landscaping and how does it differ from traditional landscapes?
A: Edible landscaping is the integration of food-producing plants like fruits, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers into ornamental landscapes. Unlike traditional landscapes that focus primarily on aesthetics, edible landscapes combine both form and function, providing visual beauty while producing food for consumption. This approach blends aesthetic value with sustainability and food security benefits.
Q: What are the main benefits of incorporating edibles into the landscape?
A: Edible landscapes provide multiple benefits including decreased food miles by reducing trips to grocery stores, reduced reliance on fossil fuel-supported food systems, improved food security, and horticultural therapy benefits for both mental and physical well-being. They can add significant color and diversity to landscapes while providing fresh, homegrown produce. The return on investment for landscaping can be approximately 110%, and edible plants add this value while producing food.
Q: What are the increased maintenance requirements for edible landscapes compared to traditional ornamental plantings?
A: Edible landscapes require more time and labor for maintenance, fertilization, and harvesting. Plants that produce edibles often need more frequent fertilization with higher nitrogen requirements. Water needs typically increase for productive plants. Additional attention is needed for pruning, training, and trellising certain crops. Harvest management is critical—ripe fruit and mature produce must be removed promptly to maintain ornamental function and prevent mess.
Q: How much sun do edible crops need to be productive?
A: Most edible crops need full sun to be very productive, with a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight per day required for yielding fruit or vegetables. If you’re not focused on maximum yield and simply want to incorporate some edible plants for aesthetic purposes, you may not need to worry as much about sun exposure, but production will be affected. The amount of sun directly affects both performance and yield.
Q: What is hydrozoning and why is it important for edible landscapes?
A: Hydrozoning is the practice of grouping plants with similar water needs together in designated areas of the landscape. This allows for more efficient irrigation by watering low-demand plants differently from high-demand plants. When combined with efficient irrigation systems like drip irrigation or soaker hoses, hydrozoning can greatly conserve water. Higher plant density areas will have greater water requirements, so planning irrigation zones based on plant needs is essential for water conservation.
Q: What irrigation systems are most efficient for edible landscapes?
A: Drip irrigation systems are highly efficient for edibles because they reduce soil evaporation by applying water directly to the root zone. Options include microtube emitters, single drip emitters, stakes, and soaker hoses. These low-flow, low-volume systems can be set on timers to water during optimal times—early morning or evening rather than mid-day when evapotranspiration rates are highest. Hand watering can also be efficient if you have time, though automated systems save labor.
Q: What type of mulch is best for vegetable production in edible landscapes?
A: Pine straw mulch is particularly well-suited for vegetable production. Large wood nuggets can bind up nutrients as they decompose, which can be problematic for productive edible plants. Pine straw allows for good air circulation and doesn’t tie up nitrogen during decomposition. Landscape fabric can also be beneficial for reducing evaporation and weed pressure, and biodegradable versions are now available. Whatever mulch type is used, it should be kept away from plant stems and trunks to prevent crown rot.
Q: How do natural and synthetic fertilizers compare for edible landscapes?
A: Natural fertilizers feed soil microorganisms that break them down for plant use, are slow-release and less likely to damage plants, and derive from renewable resources like animal products (blood meal, bone meal, fish products) or plant materials (alfalfa meal, kelp). However, nutrient content may not be precisely known and they can be more costly. Synthetic fertilizers provide immediately available nutrients with known precise content, are more compact to ship, and usually less expensive. However, they can burn plants if overapplied, leach out quickly, and don’t improve soil ecosystem health.
Q: What are the key considerations when reading pesticide labels for edible crops?
A: When using pesticides on edibles, always read the label carefully for several critical pieces of information: the correct application season, minimum days required between reapplications, maximum number of applications allowed per season, and most importantly, the harvest interval—the minimum number of days required between the last application and when you can safely harvest and consume the produce. For example, spinosad can be applied to cucurbits up to six times per season with five days between applications, but you must wait three days after the last application before harvesting (one day for cucumbers).
Q: What are some low-maintenance fruit species suitable for Georgia landscapes?
A: Low-maintenance fruit species for Georgia include cane berries (blackberries, boysenberries), blueberries (both rabbiteye and highbush varieties), citrus (in areas without extended freezing), figs, jujubes, persimmons, plums, pomegranates (in warmer areas), apples, and peaches. However, each has specific requirements and potential problems. Apples and pears are susceptible to fire blight and codling moth, citrus faces Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening, and peaches can have issues with peach leaf curl.
Q: Why are blueberries particularly well-suited for edible landscapes?
A: Blueberries excel in edible landscapes for multiple reasons. Native rabbiteye varieties provide beautiful fall foliage color, adding ornamental value beyond fruit production. They’re relatively low-maintenance and fit well into landscape designs. While self-pollinating, fruit production improves with multiple varieties planted nearby. Blueberries are nutrient-dense “superfoods” rich in antioxidants and fiber. They grow well in containers (20-30 gallon sizes) and adapt to most soil types provided drainage is good and pH is acidic. Their spring flower clusters also attract pollinators.
Q: What should be avoided when growing pomegranates in Georgia?
A: Do not plant pomegranates in low-lying areas or locations with poor drainage. Pomegranates are native to more arid regions and require excellent drainage to thrive. They may experience mixed results in middle Georgia due to climate variability. Stink bugs are a significant pest that attack pomegranates with their piercing-sucking mouthparts, penetrating the fruit. Growing pomegranates in containers can be advantageous because it allows better drainage control and the ability to move plants indoors during cold snaps, though container culture is more labor-intensive than in-ground planting.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Dr. Heather Kirk-Ballard Contact:
University of Georgia
Department of Horticulture
Cooperative Extension
Topics Covered:
- Edible landscaping design principles
- Soil preparation and management
- Water conservation through hydrozoning
- Efficient irrigation systems
- Mulching strategies
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
- Natural vs. synthetic fertilizers
- Food safety considerations
- Fruit tree selection and care
- Blueberries and small fruits
- Cane berries
- Citrus cultivation
- Edible flowers and culinary herbs
Plant Species Discussed:
- Fruit Trees: Citrus, apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, figs, jujubes, persimmons, plums, pomegranates
- Small Fruits: Blueberries (rabbiteye and highbush), grapes
- Cane Berries: Blackberries, boysenberries, raspberries
- Vegetables: Cucurbits (cucumbers, squashes, pumpkins, melons), corn, beans
- Herbs: Rosemary, basil, thyme, chives, lavender
- Edible Flowers: Nasturtium, squash blossoms, violets, Johnny jump-ups, chive flowers
For questions about edible landscaping and sustainable urban landscapes, contact Dr. Heather Kirk-Ballard at the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.