Having vegetable garden is no longer a laborious and expensive dream. With these vegetable garden design ideas, you can get fresh harvests wherever you live.

Smart hardscape design carves multiple zones and functions out of a Bay Area backyard

Exterior: Plants Sculptural, drought-tolerant greenery was the ideal counterpoint to the house's dark finish. We went with cactus to continue the midcentury look, Michael says. Pea gravel tops the previous mulch-and-dirt mixture.

Upscale picnic Decomposed granite provides a stable surface for this sophisticated picnic table from Artefact Design & Salvage. Offering some shade are three fruiting olives--one of several ornamental edibles that designer Stefani Bittner snuck into the design.

Bridges Slabs of Arizona flagstone form bridges over rock-lined channels. The rocks help slow the flow of water underneath.

Drop into Fragrance Cedar steps lead to an aromatic seating area with nearby lemongrass and licorice-scented Agastache rupestris—a delicious tea plant with orange blossoms.

Summer sunshine sets this garden aglow. A fruiting olive offers height. The bright red blooms of ‘Killer Cranberry’ salvia are echoed in the strappy burgundy leaves of two ‘Design-A-Line’ cordyline. At the front corner of the bed, small rosettes of purple Echeveria'Perle Von Nurnberg’ offer interest at ground level.

Smart hardscape design carves multiple zones and functions out of a Bay Area backyard

Opening Up Mullins upgraded the deck off the kitchen by switching out the orange wooden sides and railings with a wire grid. The result is less constricted and allows more light and air to come through. “It’s a section that’s just for me,” says DuPree. “It’s where I drink tea, read the paper, and grow potted kitchen herbs.”

Christian Cobbs, Homestead Design Collective's lead designer took the reins on this room, using it as an opportunity to showcase the low-water, easy-care plants of the Sunset Western Garden Collection. He supplemented with playful additions, like succulents and other drought-tolerant accents. Cobbs describes this garden as “foliage-based,” meaning that the impact comes from colorful leaves rather than fussy flowers. The result is year-round structure and form, with next to no maintenance.

Bright grasses and colorful leaves bring seasonal splash to your porch or patio

Makeover Vision When Renée DuPree (right) moved into her modern Oakland bungalow in the fall of 2016, the 1,700-square-foot garden was nothing special. Later that season, she decided it was time for a remodel. A friend recommended Beth Mullins, the owner of San Francisco’s Growsgreen Landscape Design and a specialist in hardscape, which is “basically anything that isn’t planted or movable,” explains Mullins.

Japanese design principles and a beachy L.A. vibe unite in a serene backyard sanctuary

Close Quarters Mullins recommends a narrow table for outdoor dining, so she brought in this vintage find from the Bay Area’s Elsie Green (elsiegreen.com). “It keeps things intimate,” she says, plus it makes passing plates easier. CB2’s Victory Pendant Lights ($199; cb2.com), rustproof with a light industrial feel, encourage post-dinner chats well into the night. Mullins also installed inconspicuous outlets, so DuPree could work on her laptop without running out of juice.

Plant for practicality For one side of the shared backyard, designed by Seabrook's Stephen Poulakos, in-ground perennials and edibles in containers form a small kitchen garden. A mix of pea gravel and crushed oyster shells prevents water runoff.

Our Los Gatos Idea House makes one notable departure from traditional craftsman homes—it doesn’t have a formal dining room. That’s where the large covered patio comes into play—the long dining table gives the homeowners a truly Californian space to entertain. Folding glass doors create a seamless flow between inside and out, and skylights illuminate the warm, cedar-lined porch. Fire pit and pavers: @belgardoutdoorliving Folding doors: @lacantinadoors Decking: @azekbuildingproducts

Reduce lawn space and water use with these stylish, water-conscious pathways

Japanese design principles and a beachy L.A. vibe unite in a serene backyard sanctuary

Drop into Fragrance

Hardscape Design Elements Create lines of sight that pique curiosity and encourage wandering to other sections of the garden. From the seating area, an overhead trellis and a dining table beckon, as do two wooden benches and a sunken patio.Use gravel light on color to open up a smaller space.