How to Create a Contemporary Vegie Garden
Some vegie gardens can be scraggly and scruffy. If the rustic look isn't for you, try these 11 ideas
Reap a bountiful harvest at home with 11 stylish ideas for productive gardens that looks fabulous too. These vegetable gardens cover a range of contemporary styles from casual to formal.
2. Espalier a fruit tree
If a wall forms part of your produce garden, plant a fruit tree to hug the wall and practice the ancient art of espalier. Aaron Worth from Utopia Landscape Design says sculpting the tree to a two-dimensional plane exposes all the branches to the sun.
“There will be a greater density of fruit,” he says. Try espaliering apples, pears, peaches or citrus.
If a wall forms part of your produce garden, plant a fruit tree to hug the wall and practice the ancient art of espalier. Aaron Worth from Utopia Landscape Design says sculpting the tree to a two-dimensional plane exposes all the branches to the sun.
“There will be a greater density of fruit,” he says. Try espaliering apples, pears, peaches or citrus.
3. A pop of colour
A vegetable garden can be part of a beautiful garden room. A few flowers in the mix can also attract pollinators and beneficial bugs to your garden. Here, raised garden beds are filled with flowers and fresh produce, while a table and chairs added to the alfresco space let the owners dine under the stars.
Keen to start a fruit and vegie garden? Find a gardener near you on Houzz for expert advice on which plants will thrive in your site and climate
A vegetable garden can be part of a beautiful garden room. A few flowers in the mix can also attract pollinators and beneficial bugs to your garden. Here, raised garden beds are filled with flowers and fresh produce, while a table and chairs added to the alfresco space let the owners dine under the stars.
Keen to start a fruit and vegie garden? Find a gardener near you on Houzz for expert advice on which plants will thrive in your site and climate
4. Go vertical…
…With lettuce, strawberries, spinach, bok choy, spring onions and herbs. Vegetables need to be able to thrive in compact growing mediums so don’t choose vegies that have dense or deep root systems. Worth says some vertical garden systems rely on small pots along a wall system. “Go for something that is more like a trough, so there’s space to grow the vegetables, or you’ll end up with one vegetable per pot and that’s quite labour intensive,” he says.
…With lettuce, strawberries, spinach, bok choy, spring onions and herbs. Vegetables need to be able to thrive in compact growing mediums so don’t choose vegies that have dense or deep root systems. Worth says some vertical garden systems rely on small pots along a wall system. “Go for something that is more like a trough, so there’s space to grow the vegetables, or you’ll end up with one vegetable per pot and that’s quite labour intensive,” he says.
5. Choose Corten steel
Corten weathering steel develops a striking rusted patina that improves with age. Grant Boyle from Fig Landscapes says the mild steel lends itself to contemporary homes. “It’s a good alternative to timber, if you are looking for something with a little bit of a modern edge. Unlike timber you don’t need to maintain it and it can be sculpted into virtually any shape or size,” he says.
Corten weathering steel develops a striking rusted patina that improves with age. Grant Boyle from Fig Landscapes says the mild steel lends itself to contemporary homes. “It’s a good alternative to timber, if you are looking for something with a little bit of a modern edge. Unlike timber you don’t need to maintain it and it can be sculpted into virtually any shape or size,” he says.
6. Render planter boxes
Raised garden beds or planter boxes that match the the look of the home create a more formal built look. Meg Geary from MG Gardens says that by introducing flowers into the planting mix you’ll have colour all year round. “A lot of vegetables are seasonal, flowers will give the garden a bit of backbone and structure between plantings,” she says.
Raised garden beds or planter boxes that match the the look of the home create a more formal built look. Meg Geary from MG Gardens says that by introducing flowers into the planting mix you’ll have colour all year round. “A lot of vegetables are seasonal, flowers will give the garden a bit of backbone and structure between plantings,” she says.
7. Sculpted vegetable gardens
From round, square, circular, or more, a vegetable garden can be virtually any shape, it just needs to sit comfortably alongside the built elements within a landscape. When designing the shape of your garden, Boyle says to think about the space you’ll need to move around. “It needs to be wide enough for a wheelbarrow, and factor in the size of the plants and how they’ll spill over in the garden,” he says.
From round, square, circular, or more, a vegetable garden can be virtually any shape, it just needs to sit comfortably alongside the built elements within a landscape. When designing the shape of your garden, Boyle says to think about the space you’ll need to move around. “It needs to be wide enough for a wheelbarrow, and factor in the size of the plants and how they’ll spill over in the garden,” he says.
8. A green table
Take your fresh garden produce from patch to plate in style. This garden table is filled with ornamentals. Swap them out for some zesty herbs such as mint, chives, and coriander, and add some leafy lettuce mix for colour.
Take your fresh garden produce from patch to plate in style. This garden table is filled with ornamentals. Swap them out for some zesty herbs such as mint, chives, and coriander, and add some leafy lettuce mix for colour.
9. Colour-coded vegie patch
Plant a mix of colour palettes for a stylish productive garden. Geary says a herb, edible flower and vegetable patch based on colour tones and preferences creates visual impact. “I’ve done all warm colours in vegetable gardens, and cooler colours too, it depends whether you want to create a relaxing space or a space that’s a bit more high energy,” she says.
Plant a mix of colour palettes for a stylish productive garden. Geary says a herb, edible flower and vegetable patch based on colour tones and preferences creates visual impact. “I’ve done all warm colours in vegetable gardens, and cooler colours too, it depends whether you want to create a relaxing space or a space that’s a bit more high energy,” she says.
10. Kitchen bench vegie garden
Invite the outdoors in by planting your favourite herbs or edible flowers in a dedicated planter in the kitchen bench. You’ll have what you need to spruce up your favourite dish right at your fingertips.
Tip: Can’t retrofit your kitchen bench to include a herb planter? Try some planter boxes on your windowsill instead.
Invite the outdoors in by planting your favourite herbs or edible flowers in a dedicated planter in the kitchen bench. You’ll have what you need to spruce up your favourite dish right at your fingertips.
Tip: Can’t retrofit your kitchen bench to include a herb planter? Try some planter boxes on your windowsill instead.
11. Make a parterre garden
Formal garden beds are divided to create a geometric or ornamental pattern. Geary says this style works particularly well in a vegie patch. “Include a water feature or ornamental bowl located centrally in the space,” she says. Having a water feature in your vegie patch also invites nature into the garden too.
Your turn
How have you created a stylish and productive vegie garden? Tell us about it in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Want more expert garden advice? Don’t miss Fast Food: Quick-Growing Autumn Vegies and Herbs to Plant Now
Formal garden beds are divided to create a geometric or ornamental pattern. Geary says this style works particularly well in a vegie patch. “Include a water feature or ornamental bowl located centrally in the space,” she says. Having a water feature in your vegie patch also invites nature into the garden too.
Your turn
How have you created a stylish and productive vegie garden? Tell us about it in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Want more expert garden advice? Don’t miss Fast Food: Quick-Growing Autumn Vegies and Herbs to Plant Now
Vegetable gardens can be practical and look beautiful too. Plant herbs and vegetables, and border the space with a tightly clipped hedge. Add some sculpted art in the garden to create focal points and interest.