Did you know? Companion planting can help your plants grow better with fewer diseases and pests. The practice is an organic way to sustain the balance in your garden by letting mutually-beneficial plants grow together.
Want to take your gardening to fruitful new heights? Well, grab your trowel and prepare to dig into the realm of companion planting. In our blog post, let’s take a look at how you can pair the right plants together and why this works wonders for your garden’s productivity, health, and beauty.
What’s Companion Planting?
Firstly, let’s explore what companion planting is. The approach is all about building plant communities which offer mutual benefits to one another. It can be a way of enhancing the pollination of vegetables and fruit. Or perhaps used to safeguard your crops from pests. While there isn’t conclusive evidence in terms of companion gardening, numerous green-fingered folk find it incredibly helpful to their plant’s performance.
Most companion plants smell fragrant and may confuse pests seeking their host plant. But others possess anti-fungal or antibacterial properties, while others entice beneficial insects like lacewings and ladybirds, which eat aphids. Usually, companion planting takes place in a vegetable patch. That said, several decorative blooms like roses may also find it useful to have specific plants growing nearby.
The Beauty of Companion Planting
Crafting a symphonic garden is like making a gorgeous puzzle. Essentially companion planting involves sourcing the perfect plant partnerships that balance and facilitate each other’s development. Just like good friends, particular plants have one-off qualities that can do wonders for their next-door pals.
A Natural Way to Encourage Pest Control
Who really wants pests in their garden, particularly those annoying insects that feast on your much-loved plants? Don’t worry. Companion planting is your holy grail against these tiny trespassers. If you purposefully plant specific herbs, veggies, and flowers, you’ll successfully repel unwanted guests and protect your garden’s treasures.
Pest-Busting Duo
Several plants have the ability to defend others. When planted next to susceptible crops, they work as guardians. Did you know? Marigolds aren’t just known for their bright colours. They also emit an aroma that deters nematodes and aphids. So, be sure to plant marigolds next to your beans or tomatoes to keep those pests away.
Enticing Valuable Creepy-Crawlies
The good news? Not all creepy crawlies are harmful. Actually, several are your garden’s chums, pollinating your flowers and devouring bad insects. To entice beneficial insects such as lacewings and ladybirds, incorporate fennel, cosmos, dill, and other plants like these in your garden. In doing so, these creepy crawlies will enjoy eating those pesky mites and aphids.
Smart Space Planning for Better Nutrient Management
Besides pest control, companion planting is also about making the most of space and nutrient resources in your green space. When you pair plants with various nutrient needs and growth habits, they unlock the full potential of your garden area.
Vertical Companions
Tight for space? Go vertical. Think about growing climbing plants such as peas, beans, or cucumbers together with durable fences or trellises. In doing so, they grow skyward while leaving the ground open for other flowers and vegetables to blossom.
Soil-Smart Partnerships
Specific plants feature cavernous roots that help slacken compacted soil, making it simpler for shallow-rooted plants to retrieve nutrients. For instance, onions release compounds that discourage carrot flies, while a classic pair of carrots, with their lengthy taproots, break up the soil. It’s a winning combo!
Cultivating a Sensory Oasis
Not only will your garden be visually attractive with companion planting, but the practice also enables you to harmonise the senses in your garden. So, you can build a symphony of colours, textures, and fragrances, transforming your garden into a multi-sensory experience.
Vivid Combinations
Experimenting with colours can bring a magical touch to your garden. For instance, you could match your vegetables with vibrant flowers like zinnias, sunflowers or cosmos. Not only will you entice pollinators, but you’ll also add a splash of colour for a true visual feast.
Perfumed Partners
Picture the scene: You’re walking through your garden, immersing yourself in a bouquet of joyful fragrances. Create a sensory sanctuary by planting aromatic herbs such as thyme, lavender or rosemary beside your flowers – your senses will love it. What’s more, you can harvest herbs like these and use them in your cooking.
Top Companion Planting Picks
So, you probably have more of a grasp of companion planting. Great! Now it’s time to look in more detail at some much-loved plant partnerships that have stood the test of time. These combos have been successful in numerous gardens and are well worth considering for your own alfresco oasis.
The Three Sisters
The Native Americans were gurus when it came to companion planting. One of their most favoured combinations was the Three Sisters, involving beans, squash, and corn. The trio works in flawless synchronisation. The tall corn stalks assist the ascending beans, which then enhance the soil with nitrogen. The squash stretches on the ground, working as a breathing mulch, destroying weeds and preserving moisture. It’s a beautiful symbiotic collaboration that optimises space and harvest.
Garlic and Roses
Roses are the rulers of your plot. However, even they require some protection from pests. If you plant garlic at the bottom of your rose bushes, they help avert unwanted visitors such as aphids. Plus, its intense aroma works as a natural repellent while bringing a bit of culinary possibility to your garden. What could beat harvesting your own home-grown garlic ready for your spaghetti Bolognese while feasting your eyes on a gorgeous bed of roses?
Tomatoes and Basil
Are you an Italian food enthusiast? Then this combo is an absolute must in your garden. Tomatoes and basil are like a marriage in heaven on the plate as well as when they’re planted together. Basil enriches the taste of tomatoes while repelling flies, mosquitoes and other such pests. It’s a win-win for your garden’s health and your taste buds!
Garden Design
Need professional garden design services? No problem. At Floral & Hardy, we can help you incorporate companion planting into your dream garden. Check out our garden design services page for more info
Garden Layout
Need more help and inspiration on garden plans and layout? End your search now. Take a peek at our garden layout for expert advice.
A Garden of Possibilities
Well done, gardening fanatics. You’re now equipped with the know-how to craft a garden bursting with companionship, synchronisation, and natural splendour. Don’t forget, companion planting is all about playing around with and discovering the groupings that will fit the needs of your precious garden. So, go on: Have fun, and let your garden blossom! Enquire now. Happy gardening, everyone.
