Growing your own fruits and berries means you'll have the ripest, freshest fare available during growing season. In addition, the plants themselves can play multiple roles in the garden.

Fruit trees add spring color with their blossoms and provide shade throughout the summer.

Cane berries, such as boysenberries and raspberries, can double as a garden hedge, while strawberries can form a solid ground cover.

Unlike vegetable and herb gardens, which are planted for a single season, fruits and berries are permanent parts of your landscape (exceptions are melons, which are annuals).

Planting locations are key, both for the health of the plants and the overall look of your landscape.

You'll also need to prune and shape the plants to keep them in bounds and to ensure future fruit production.