Gardening Guide: Companion Planting
As this weather has us itching to do ALL the Spring things, including gardening, we invited our friends at DiamondB to help us do some thinking and planning. You know…BEFORE we go spending our life’s savings at the plant nurseries. (But they are ALL so pretty!)
What is companion planting?
Companion planting is the practice of planting different types of plants near each other to benefit one or more of them. This can be accomplished in various ways and for various reasons. Not only is it easy to do, but it also increases your chances of tending a successful garden.
Grouping by needs
Some plants make good companions because they have the same soil and nutrient needs. Putting them in the same garden bed means that the environment they share is ideal. For example, if your garden bed has acidic soil, planting all of your blueberries together with your hydrangeas will make sense. In the same way, you can group plants together based on their water needs. You certainly wouldn’t plant a cactus together with a watermelon because their needs are so different that the likelihood of both surviving would be slim. However, you could plant your watermelon near your leafy greens, and they would enjoy frequent watering. A little research into the needs of your plants may reveal some obvious pairings.
Grouping by symbiotic relationships
Sometimes, you want to match plants together based on how they can benefit each other. For example, plant squash, a heavy feeder amongst a row of sweet peas or beans, which will enrich the soil with nitrogen from its roots, and voila! Natural fertilizer! Planting corn or sunflowers near sweet peas or pole beans gives a natural trellis for them to climb. The most famous companion plants are referred to as the “three sisters” (corn, squash, and beans). Still, endless combinations from all plant varieties could benefit from being grouped together in your garden. Some plants work well together for pest control. Planting some herbs or flowers in the same bed interspersed with vegetables can repel pests and attract pollinators, improving the quality of your harvest. You may also group things together that make the most use of the space. For example, radishes grow quickly, so you can plant something like carrots within the same row. The radish will be harvested before the carrots get big enough for competition between them, and when you harvest the radish, it makes the soil loose and roomy, allowing the carrots to grow better. Another possibility would be to plant something tall, like corn, next to something that benefits from shade, like lettuce. Take time to think about what you are planting and how you might utilize each plant’s strengths.
Weeds as companions
Would it surprise you to discover that some gardeners welcome weeds? The most famous of these weeds is, of course, the dandelion. Long believed to be a nuisance, dandelion is both delicious and nutritious. Grow it in your garden as a companion plant to ward off pests and attract pollinators, and then throw it into your salad for a healthy addition to your diet. Even weeds that are not edible can be helpful by preventing soil erosion and retaining moisture and humidity. You still need to ensure that weeds are not overcrowding your crop, but depending on your garden situation, not all weeds are necessarily bad.
Groupings to avoid
Just as some plants can improve their neighbors, other plants should never be planted near each other. Some plant roots will leech natural toxins into the soil, harming certain plant species. A good example of this is the black walnut tree, which is why you should avoid planting other things within its canopy unless it is a species immune to the toxin. You also have to be careful where you place plants in the brassica family (cabbage, broccoli, etc.) because they produce a chemical known to stunt the growth of other plants. Another thing to avoid is grouping different species of the same type of plant so that the varieties don’t cross-pollinate, which could yield unexpected results. Be sure to know the distance needed between different varieties to avoid unwanted cross-pollination.
Separating by common pest
While the concept of companion planting is typically thought of as placing plants together in groups, there are also occasions when separating plants is beneficial. One such case would be when the plants all have the same predator pests. If you place many plants together that share the same enemy, it would be easy for that pest to decimate your crops quickly once an infestation occurs. Intersperse other species unaffected by that pest to break up a large swath of the same plant group. Marigolds do a beautiful job in this regard because they attract beneficial insects that will keep your pest population under control. If you can’t avoid planting large quantities of the same plant together, place a “trap crop” that will attract the most likely pests to the nearby decoy plant.
Experiment and Enjoy
The benefits of companion planting are within reach of even the novice gardener. A little homework and some common sense when planning the garden placement will go a long way. If you aren’t sure, ask your local nursery or do some online research to learn more about the plants you want to include in your garden. Consult a companion planting chart or do a simple search for companion plants for your specific garden plans. It will help you draw out your plans and make adjustments to maximize the location of all your plants while keeping companions in mind. Don’t be afraid to experiment! There is more than one “right” combination, so be adventurous and try something new. Make notes on what worked well and what didn’t, and experiment again the next season!
Want to learn more about gardening? Check out more from DiamondB. Look for the Tip of the Week on our website. Also, click below to learn about Growing Patience.
