A Florida farmer says ‘edible landscaping’ is the secret to saving money. As grocery prices climb, is your bill giving you a green thumb?

Ager may be onto something. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS), grocery prices rose 1.2% from 2023 to 2024 (2). Over the longer term, from 2020 to 2024, the all-food Consumer Price Index rose 23.6% (3), which was higher than general inflation figures over that same time period.

With consumers feeling the price squeeze at the grocery store, the trend of edible landscaping, like what Ager is doing with his farm, could be worth digging into.

Pros and cons of edible landscaping

Edible landscaping, also known as foodscaping, culinary landscaping, or edible gardens, is when gardeners include food-producing plants in ornamental or landscape design. Instead of treating vegetables, fruit trees, herbs, and the like, as strictly produce to be consumed, they become part of the aesthetics of the yard.

The goal is to create a garden that is both beautiful and productive so that your walking path, flower beds, fence lines, and shade trees can double as food sources. According to Edible Landscapes, an environmental nonprofit organization, foodscaping can help with addressing food insecurity (4).

Because it’s a mix of style and substance, edible landscaping can appeal to people who don’t want a fenced “veggie patch” but still want to grow their own food.

According to the Tampa Bay article, Ager teaches families how to set up edible landscapes in their yards, and, being in Florida with warm weather, many plants can grow year-round.

Ager’s not the only one with this type of business. Another example is California-based Farmscape, which offers edible garden consulting, custom design, licensed installation, and organic maintenance. There’s also Home Harvest in Boston, showing that depending on the climate, different types of plants do best in different areas of the county.

Interested in setting up your own edible landscape? Keep in mind some of the pros:

• You don’t need a ton of space. Many edible landscaping designs can fit into smaller lots, front yards, side yards, container gardens, and vertical gardens.
• Many edible plants are low-maintenance once established (perennials, shrubs, fruit trees).
• Over time, you can reduce food costs, especially for pricier items like herbs.

Don’t forget the potential cons:

• Upfront cost and labor. Be prepared to get the soil ready, spend money on plants, irrigation, fencing, and design work.
• You’ll need to learn about soil, pests, composting, plant selection, local climate, water management, pruning, etc.
• It’s not “set it and forget it”; you’ll have to be ready to maintain the landscape to prevent weeds, pests, and diseases, which means pruning and other seasonal tasks.
• Keep in mind the climate you live in. Some plants won’t thrive in cold climates or very short growing seasons; perennial zones matter.
• Check your HOA rules. Some homeowner associations restrict edible gardens in front yards or have rules about tidiness.
• You can’t fully predict a yield because of weather, pests, or other disasters.

Cost savings and how to get started

Let’s say you’ve thought it over and want to explore the idea further. How much can you really save by turning your lawn into a food garden? It depends on your yard, your climate, and how much effort you put in.

A carefully designed edible landscape filled with fruit trees, berry bushes, herbs, and perennial vegetables can make a dent in your grocery bill over time. According to a 2022 Trees.com survey, 33% of Americans surveyed report saving $100 a month or more on produce by growing a garden (5).

Just don’t expect the savings to happen overnight. You’ll have upfront costs for soil prep, compost, plants, irrigation systems, fencing, and tools, depending on the size and setup. Most homeowners need a few years before their harvests start paying them back.

The value also depends on what you grow. Producing your own herbs or organic fruit, for example, can offset pricier grocery-store purchases. And don’t forget about extra “hidden savings,” like less food waste, fresher ingredients that last longer, and no markups for packaging or transport.

Ready to get your hands dirty? To get started with edible landscaping, here’s what it takes and what to look out for:

Get your ground ready. Start with the basics: prepare your soil, compost, and learn your yard’s sun and shade patterns. Good soil and proper drainage are critical for a productive edible garden.

Pick plants that play well with your climate. Choose fruits, herbs, and vegetables that make sense for your growing zone, frost dates, and drought tolerance. Planning for spacing, irrigation, and microclimates will help everything thrive together.