William Carson Joyce
This is an example of a farmhouse full sun backyard garden path in San Diego for summer.

This craftsman landscape boasts nine cedar raised vegetable beds which produce an abundance of fresh, organic produce.
Design ideas for a large craftsman full sun courtyard gravel vegetable garden landscape in San Diego.

The Ardent Gardener Landscape Design
Design ideas for a traditional full sun side yard brick formal garden in Salt Lake City for summer.

A custom all cedar raised bed was designed and installed outside the kitchen door for easy access. It is filled with organic potting soil, organic fertilizer, and herb seedlings.

Don't forget flower for the pollinators in your edible garden
This is an example of a farmhouse full sun backyard gravel formal garden in Boston for summer.

'Sweet 100' cherry tomatoes growing in a 15-gallon terra-cotta pot. Container-grown tomatoes are more susceptible to blossom end rot, but cherry tomatoes like 'Sweet 100', 'Sungold', and 'Black Cherry' rarely have this problem. Photo by Steve Masley

Double City Salad Boxes
Example of a small trendy side yard patio vegetable garden design in Los Angeles with no cover

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional partial sun backyard mulch vegetable garden landscape in Seattle.

'Sweet 100' cherry tomatoes growing in a 15-gallon terra-cotta pot. Container-grown tomatoes are more susceptible to blossom end rot, but cherry tomatoes like 'Sweet 100', 'Sungold', and 'Black Cherry' rarely have this problem. Photo by Steve Masley

We worked with the owner of this Mercer Island home to completely transform his large, shady backyard and unproductive vegetable garden into a sunny productive space. The new extensive annual vegetable garden features deep raised beds, wide pathways, small production greenhouse, a tool shed, rain garden and patio for entertaining. The site will also includes native plantings, cut-flower garden and a small farm stand that the owner will stock with the extra bounty from his garden. Hilary Dahl

Many outdoor rooms interconnect around this entire “Family Compound,” a back house, and adjourning guest home. There is everything you need to entertain a giant family and to have friends over for a pool party. Some elements include a huge agave orchard with courtyards, an outdoor BBQ kitchen, a vegetable garden with fruit trees, a swimming pool, patios and levels. The landscape design also addresses drought tolerance and organic gardening. Paul Hendershot Design Inc. furniture: https://www.houzz.com/photos/products/seller--paulhendershot PC | Alicia Cattoni for paulhendershotdesign.com

This project presented unique opportunities that are not often found in residential landscaping. The homeowners were not only restoring their 1840's era farmhouse, a piece of their family’s history, but also enlarging and updating the home for modern living. The landscape designers continued this idea by creating a space that is a modern day interpretation of an 1840s era farm rather then a strict recreation. The resulting design combines elements of farm living from that time, as well as acknowledging the property’s history as a horse farm, with staples of 21st century landscapes such as space for outdoor living, lighting, and newer plant varieties. Guests approach from the main driveway which winds through the property and ends at the main barn. There is secondary gated driveway just for the homeowners. Connected to this main driveway is a narrower gravel lane which leads directly to the residence. The lane passes near fruit trees planted in broken rows to give the illusion that they are the remains of an orchard that once existed on the site. The lane widens at the entrance to the gardens where there is a hitching post built into the fence that surrounds the gardens and a watering trough. The widened section is intended as a place to park a golf cart or, in a nod to the home’s past, tie up horses before entering. The gravel lane passes between two stone pillars and then ends at a square gravel court edged in cobblestones. The gravel court transitions into a wide flagstone walk bordered with yew hedges and lavender leading to the front door. Directly to the right, upon entering the gravel court, is located a gravel and cobblestone edged walk leading to a secondary entrance into the residence. The walk is gated where it connects with the gravel court to close it off so as not to confuse visitors and guests to the main residence and to emphasize the primary entrance. An area for a bench is provided along this walk to encourage stopping to view and enjoy the gardens. On either side of the front door, gravel and cobblestone walks branch off into the garden spaces. The one on the right leads to a flagstone with cobblestone border patio space. Since the home has no designated backyard like most modern suburban homes the outdoor living space had to be placed in what would traditionally be thought of as the front of the house. The patio is separated from the entrance walk by the yew hedge and further enclosed by three Amelanchiers and a variety of plantings including modern cultivars of old fashioned plants such as Itea and Hydrangea. A third entrance, the original front door to the 1840’s era section, connects to the patio from the home’s kitchen, making the space ideal for outdoor dining. The gravel and cobblestone walk branching off to the left of the front door leads to the vegetable and perennial gardens. The idea for the vegetable garden was to recreate the tradition of a kitchen garden which would have been planted close to the residence for easy access. The vegetable garden is surrounded by mixed perennial beds along the inside of the wood picket fence which surrounds the entire garden space. Another area designated for a bench is provided here to encourage stopping and viewing. The home’s original smokehouse, completely restored and used as a garden shed, provides a strong architectural focal point to the vegetable garden. Behind the smokehouse is planted lilacs and other plants to give mass and balance to the corner and help screen the garden from the neighboring subdivision. At the rear corner of the garden a wood arbor was constructed to provide a structure on which to grow grapes or other vines should the homeowners choose to. The landscape and gardens for this restored farmhouse and property are a thoughtfully designed and planned recreation of a historic landscape reinterpreted for modern living. The idea was to give a sense of timelessness when walking through the gardens as if they had been there for years but had possibly been updated and rejuvenated as lifestyles changed. The attention to materials and craftsmanship blend seamlessly with the residence and insure the gardens and landscape remain an integral part of the property. The farm has been in the homeowner’s family for many years and they are thrilled at the results and happy to see respect given to the home’s history and to its meticulous restoration.

Nick McCullough
Design ideas for a transitional full sun backyard gravel vegetable garden landscape in Columbus.

Terraced raised garden bed

Potting mixes for container gardens need to drain freely, but still retain moisture. My base potting soil mix contains (clockwise from upper left) coarse builder's sand, high-quality organic compost or worm castings, coconut coir, and small lava rock. I supplement this with additional compost, fresh worm castings, and organic soil amendments, with the amounts varying depending on what I'm planting. Photo by Steve Masley

An edible front yard! This Atwater craftsman style home features raised beds, fruit trees and vines. A beautiful alternative to a lawn, and much more productive. Drip irrigation throughout keeps it low maintenance. Photo by Jacky Surber

Spring growth in the vegetable garden
This is an example of a large modern full sun backyard gravel vegetable garden landscape in Vancouver.

Copyright 2015 Glenna Partridge
Inspiration for a transitional landscaping in Vancouver.

Landscape design and photography by Melanie Rekola
Design ideas for a small full sun side yard gravel vegetable garden landscape in Toronto.