Various plants can be planted around the fruit tree which help it to grow even better, give more production and has various other benefits. This is called companion planting or Guild planting.
A fruit tree guild is the building block of an edible forest garden.
Not only useful but also aesthetically pleasing to the senses.
Benefits of Companion planting.
Companion planting at Newquay Orchard
- Companion plants help deter pests, their flowers attract beneficial insects and pollinators, provides more pollen & nectar for bees, and also help the plants grow to their full potential.
- Companion plants can help conserve moisture and keep weeds down; they can also be used as living mulches that are cut back and allowed to decompose around tree root zones for added nutrients.
- Some companion plants have long taproots that reach deep within the soil and pull up valuable minerals and nutrients that benefit all the plants around them.
- Companion planting can also help you ensure that good levels of the nutrients all plants need are in the soil and available to the roots, especially nitrogen.
Some examples of good companion plants:
- Comfrey – Has beautiful flowers that attract pollinators. It grows vigorously, blocking weed growth and the roots stretch deep into the subsoil which releases minerals and nutrients not available to other plants. Comfrey can also be cut up to 4 times each season and used as plant food.
- Dandelion -Another plant with a deep ground penetrating tap root, the dandelion releases deep minerals and nutrients not available to many plants. As dandelions are one of the first flowers to bloom, they are handy for attracting early pollinators to your plums, peaches, apricots, cherries and early-flowering apple and pear trees.
- Marigold – These attractive flowers are great for attracting pollinators and also for repelling nematodes. Nematodes live under the soil and damage plant roots to the point of death of the plant. The aroma exuded from marigolds keeps these pests away giving your fruit trees a much better survival rate. Marigolds also encourage the growth of beneficial mycorrhizal fungi. As long as marigolds are regularly deadheaded, they will bloom all Summer long. If allowed to set seed they will regrow next season
- Nasturtium – nasturtiums secrete a chemical into the soil that is taken up by the trees which they say makes the trees emit the same fragrance as nasturtiums and this keeps the pests away. Nasturtiums are particularly good at deterring codling moths that affect both apple and pear trees.
- Lavender – This aromatic plant repel many pests and attracts many pollinators including hoverflies. Hoverfly larvae also feed on aphids, so growing lavender gives an added bonus.
- Chives – Like other members of the allium family, chives will deter many pests including aphids. Chives also attract many good pollinators once in flower and they take hardly any maintenance at all. Other members of the allium family like onions and leeks are also beneficial.
- Dill – This herb related to carrots, attracts parasitic wasps that will keep pest populations down. Dill also repels cabbage white butterflies, and will regrow every year if allowed to set seed.
- Rosemary – Another aromatic herb, rosemary is a must for the organic gardener. It repels many pests including aphids and mosquitoes. As rosemary flowers early in the season it will attract many pollinators.
- Stinging nettles – Makes great companion plants for fruit trees because they attract beneficial insects like ladybirds, bees, and butterflies. Stinging nettles are a rich source of magnesium, iron, calcium, and silica, and any plant growing in companion to them will benefit. The main benefits include resistance to aphid attack and resistance to mildew, making the plants stronger and healthier.
- Foxgloves – The tall spikes of foxglove flowers will improve the health of your trees. Foxgloves help protect fruit trees from disease and fungal infections, boost growth and increase the longevity of the fruit once it’s picked. Their roots dig deep and release iron which is then freely shared with neighbours. Foxgloves are poisonous to people and animals, it is said that they contain digitalis which is a steroid which exerts a powerful action on the heart.
- Garlic – Garlic is well known to repel aphids and also disguise pear trees from codling moths. Whatever the plant there is an aphid that has evolved to attack it. Garlic spray is a great deterrent and eliminator of aphids.
- Beans and peas – The family of plants known as legumes, which includes peas and beans, has a symbiotic relationship with a certain bacteria in the soil that allows them to ‘fix’ nitrogen from the atmosphere on their roots. This nitrogen also helps plants nearby to grow strong and healthy.
These herbs are also wonderful companion plants: Chamomile, Coriander, Dill, Fennel, Basil, Lemongrass, Mint, Artemisia, Yarrow
Adopt a tree in St Ives Community Orchard and plant a garden around it.
We would love to create a garden around every fruit tree in the orchard using companion plants.
We encourage local people to adopt a fruit tree in the orchard and look after it in this way.
Contact us if you’re interested in doing this.