Want to know how planting the right flowers and herbs around your fruit trees can help them grow healthier and produce more fruit?
Planting the right flowers and herbs around your fruit trees can help them grow stronger, stay healthy, and even give you more fruit.
This is called companion planting with fruit trees.
Let’s dig in!
1. Comfrey
Comfrey is one of the best companion planting with fruit trees ideas because it acts as a nutrient accumulator.
Its deep roots pull minerals from the soil and bring them closer to the surface, enriching the area around fruit trees.
Comfrey leaves can also be used as mulch, providing natural fertilizer and keeping the soil moist.
Watch, 15 Genius Companion Plant Layouts That Actually Work in Real Gardens
2. Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are a colorful and practical choice for companion planting with fruit trees ideas.
They attract pollinators while also trapping pests like aphids, keeping them away from fruit trees. Plus, nasturtiums create a living ground cover that reduces weeds and helps maintain soil moisture.
3. Clover
Clover is an excellent nitrogen fixer, making it one of the top companion planting with fruit trees ideas.
By improving soil fertility, clover provides the nutrients fruit trees need to thrive. It also serves as a ground cover, preventing erosion and creating a soft carpet under the trees.
See, 15 Best Companion Plants for Strawberries
4. Garlic
Garlic is a natural pest repellent and works well as part of companion planting with fruit trees ideas.
It helps deter insects like aphids, mites, and even some fungal diseases. Planting garlic at the base of fruit trees adds an extra layer of protection without using chemicals.
5. Chives
Chives are another powerful pest-repelling herb that fits perfectly into companion planting with fruit trees ideas.
They discourage pests like apple scab and deter aphids, which can damage fruit trees. Their purple flowers also attract bees, helping improve pollination and fruit production.
See, 23 Companion Flower Planting Ideas
6. Marigolds
Marigolds are widely known for their ability to repel nematodes and other harmful insects, making them ideal for companion planting with fruit trees ideas.
Their bright blooms bring pollinators into the garden, increasing fruit set. Additionally, marigolds add a splash of color, creating a vibrant and healthy orchard space.
7. Borage
Borage is a pollinator magnet and a top choice for companion planting with fruit trees ideas.
Bees love its star-shaped flowers, which means more pollination for your fruit trees. Borage also improves soil health and can be used as a natural mulch when its leaves decompose.
8. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a fragrant herb that doubles as a pest repellent in companion planting with fruit trees ideas.
Its strong scent confuses pests like beetles and aphids, keeping them away from fruit trees. Lemon balm also attracts beneficial insects such as bees, helping improve fruit yields.
9. Daffodils
Daffodils are not only beautiful spring flowers but also practical in companion planting with fruit trees ideas. They help deter rodents and borers that might otherwise harm tree roots.
Planting them in a circle around fruit trees creates a natural barrier while adding seasonal beauty.
10. Yarrow
Yarrow is highly valued in companion planting with fruit trees ideas because it attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings.
These insects feed on pests that would otherwise damage fruit trees. Yarrow also improves soil quality and can be cut back for use as mulch.
11. Lavender
Lavender brings fragrance and beauty, but it’s also powerful in companion planting with fruit trees ideas.
Its strong scent deters pests like moths and fleas while drawing in bees for pollination. Lavender also thrives in sunny spots near fruit trees, making it a low-maintenance companion.
12. Beans
Beans are classic nitrogen-fixing plants and play a big role in companion planting with fruit trees ideas.
By enriching the soil with nitrogen, they give fruit trees the nutrients needed for healthy growth.
Beans can be grown as a ground crop beneath trees, making use of space efficiently while improving the orchard’s productivity.
Using companion planting with fruit trees ideas can make your garden healthier, more colorful, and more productive.
By adding plants like herbs, flowers, and legumes around your fruit trees, you can naturally keep pests away, improve the soil, and attract helpful insects for pollination.
These simple planting choices create a balanced garden where fruit trees thrive and give you better harvests.
