Avoid suspicion: when you're walking
through your neighbor's melon patch,
don't tie your shoe - Chinese Proverb
COMPANION PLANTING
Many plants have natural substances in
their roots, flowers, leaves etc. that
can alternately repel (anti-feedents)
and/or attract insects depending on your
needs. In some situations they can also
help enhance the growth rate and flavor
of other varieties. Experience shows us
that using companion planting through out
the landscape is an important part of
integrated pest management. In essence
companion planting helps bring a balanced
eco-system to your landscape, allowing
nature to do its' job.
By using companion planting, many gardeners
find that they can discourage harmful pests
without losing the beneficial allies. There
are many varieties of herbs, flowers, etc.
that can be used for companion plants. Be
open to experimenting and find what works
for you. Some possibilities would be using
certain plants as a border, backdrop or
interplanting in your flower or vegetable
beds where you have specific needs. Use
plants that are native to your area so the
insects you want to attract already know
what to look for! Plants with open cup
shaped flowers are the most popular with
beneficial insects.
Companion planting can combine beauty and
purpose to give you an enjoyable, healthy
environment. Have fun, let your imagination
soar. There are many ways you can find to
incorporate these useful plants in your
garden, orchard, flower beds etc.
Following is a basic plant guide (with some
tips) to help you "work in harmony with nature."
Note: this guide is not intended
to solve garden problems as the
suggestions may work differently
in various situations or not at
all. Don't let that discourage
you from giving the ideas a try!
What works for some may not work
for others and vice versa.
Experimenting is the only way we
can gain new insight for our own
individual gardens.
PLANT GUIDE
ALFALFA: Perennial that roots deeply. Fixes
the soil with nitrogen, accumulates iron, magnesium,
phosphorous and potassium. Withstands droughts with
it's long taproot and can improve just about any soil!
Alfalfa has the ability to break up hard clay soil
and can even send its' roots through rocks! Now that
is a tenacious plant! Alfalfa is practically pest and
disease free. It needs only natural rainfall to survive.
AMARANTH: A tropical annual that needs hot
conditions to flourish. Good with sweet corn, it's
leaves provide shade giving the corm a rich, moist
root run. Host to predatory ground beetles. Eat the
young leaves in salads.
ANISE: Licorice flavored herb, good host for
predatory wasps which prey on aphids and it is also
said to repel aphids. Deters pests from brassicas by
camouflaging their odor. Improves the vigor of any
plants growing near it. Used in ointments to protect
against bug stings and bites. Good to plant with
coriander.
ARTEMISIAS: See Wormwood
BASIL: Plant with tomatoes to improve growth
and flavor. Basil can be helpful in repelling thrips.
It is said to repel flies and mosquitoes.
Do not plant near rue.
BAY LEAF: A fresh leaf bay leaf in each
storage container of beans or grains will deter weevils
and moths. Sprinkle dried leaves with other deterrent
herbs in garden as natural insecticide dust.
A good combo: Bay leaves, cayenne pepper, tansy and
peppermint.
* For ladybug invasions try spreading bay leaves
around in your house anywhere they are getting in
and they should leave.
BEANS: All bean enrich the soil with nitrogen
fixed form the air. In general they are good company
for carrots, brassicas, beets, and cucumbers. Great
for heavy nitrogen users like corn and grain plants.
French Haricot beans, sweet corn and melons are
a good combo. Keep beans away from the alliums.
BEE BALM (Oswego, Monarda): Plant with tomatoes
to improve growth and flavor. Great for attracting
beneficials and bees of course. Pretty perennial that
tends to get powdery mildew.
BEET: Good for adding minerals to the soil.
The leaves are composed of 25% magnesium. Companions
are lettuce, onions and brassicas.
BORAGE: Companion plant for tomatoes, squash
and strawberries. Deters tomato hornworms and cabbage
worms. One of the best bee and wasp attracting plants.
Adds trace minerals to the soil and a good addition
the compost pile. Borage may benefit any plant it is
growing next to via increasing resistance to pests
and disease. After you have planned this annual once
it will self seed.
BRASSICA: Benefit from chamomile, peppermint,
dill, sage, and rosemary. They need rich soil with
plenty of lime to flourish.
BUCKWHEAT: Accumulates calcium and can be
grown as an excellent cover crop. Attracts hoverflies
in droves. (Member of the brassica family.)
CARAWAY: Good for loosening compacted soil
with it's deep roots. Tricky to establish. The flowers
attract a number of beneficial insects.
CATNIP: Deters flea beetles, aphids, Japanese
beetles, squash bugs, ants and weevils. We have found
it repels mice quite well: mice were wreaking havoc
in our outbuildings, we spread sprigs of mint throughout
and the mice split! Use sprigs of mint anywhere in the
house you want deter mice and ants. Smells good and
very safe.
CHAMOMILE, GERMAN: Annual. Improves flavor
of cabbages, cucumbers and onions. Host to hoverflies
and wasps. Accumulates calcium, potassium and sulfur,
later returning them to the soil. Increases oil
production from herbs. Leave some flowers unpicked and
German chamomile will reseed itself. Roman chamomile
is a low growing perennial that will tolerate almost
any soil conditions. Both like full sun. Growing
chamomile of any type is considered a tonic for
anything you grow in the garden.
CHERVIL: Companion to radishes for improved
growth and flavor. Keeps aphids off lettuce. Likes shade.
CHIVES: Improves growth and flavor of carrots
and tomatoes . Chives may drive away Japanese beetles
and carrot rust fly. Planted among apple trees it may
help prevent scab. A tea of chives may be used on
cucumbers to prevent downy mildew. See chive tea on
disease page.
CHRYSANTHEMUMS: C. coccineum kills root
nematodes. (the bad ones) It's flowers along with
those of C. cineraruaefolium have been used as
botanical pesticides for centuries. (i.e. pyrethrum)
White flowering chrysanthemums repel Japanese beetles.
CLOVER: Long used as a green manure and plant
companion. Attracts many beneficials. Useful planted
around apple trees to attract predators of the woolly
aphid.
COMFREY: Accumulates calcium, phosphorous and
potassium. Likes wet spots to grow in. Traditional
medicinal plant. Good trap crop for slugs.
CORIANDER: Repels aphids, spider mites and
potato beetle. A tea from this can be used as a spray
for spider mites. A partner for anise.
COSTMARY: This 2-3 foot tall perennial of the
chrysanthemum family helps to repel moths.
DAHLIAS: These beautiful, tuberous annuals
that can have up to dinner plate size flowers repels
nematodes!
DILL: Improves growth and health of cabbage.
Do not plant near carrots. Best friend for lettuce.
Attracts hoverflies and predatory wasps. Repels
aphids and spider mites to some degree. Also may
repel the dreaded squash bug! (scatter some good
size dill leaves on plants that are suspect to
squash bugs, like squash plants, yeah that's the
ticket.) Dill goes well with onions and cucumbers.
Dill does attract the tomato horn worm so it would
be useful to plant it somewhere away from your tomato
plants to keep the destructive horn worm away from
them. We like to plant it for the swallowtail butterfly caterpillars to feed
on. Even their caterpillars are
beautiful.
ELDERBERRY: A spray (see insect treatments)
made from the leaves can be used against aphids,
carrot root fly, cuke beetles and peach tree borers.
Put branches and leaves in mole runs to banish them.
Yes, it works!
FLAX: Plant with carrots, and potatoes. Flax
contains tannin and linseed oils which may offend
the Colorado potato bug. Flax is an annual from 1-4
feet tall with blue or white flowers that readily
self sows. We have quite a few flax plants return
year after year here in zone 5.
FOUR-O'CLOCKS: Draw Japanese beetles like
a magnet which then dine on the foliage. The foliage
is pure poison to them and they won't live to have
dessert! It is important to mention that Four
O"clocks are also poisonous to humans. Please be
careful where you plant them if you have children.
They are a beautiful annual plant growing from 2-3
feet high with a bushy growth form.
GARLIC: Plant near roses to repel aphids.
Accumulates sulfur: a naturally occurring fungicide
which will help in the garden with disease prevention.
Garlic is systemic in action as it is taken up the
plants through their pores and when used as a soil
drench is also taken up by the roots. Has value in
offending codling moths, Japanese beetles, root
maggots, snails, and carrot root fly. Researchers
have observed that time-released garlic capsules
planted at the bases of fruit trees actually kept
deer away! Hey, worth a try! Concentrated garlic
sprays have been observed to repel and kill whiteflies,
aphids and fungus gnats among others with as little as
a 6-8% concentration! It is safe for use on orchids too.
* Try concentrated Garlic Barrier Insect Repellent!
Geranium: -Repels cabbage worms and Japanese
beetles, plant around grapes, roses, corn, and cabbage.
GOPHER PURGE: Deters gophers, and moles.
HORSERADISH: Plant in containers in the
potato patch to keep away Colorado potato bugs. There
are some very effective insect sprays that can be made
with the root. Use the bottomless pot method to keep
horseradish contained. Also repels Blister beetles.
We have observed that the root can yield anti-fungal
properties when a tea is made from it.
(See: Horseradish: Disease)
HOREHOUND: (Marrubium Vulgare) like many
varieties in the mint family, the many tiny flowers
attract Braconid and Icheumonid wasps, and Tachinidin
and Syrid flies. The larval forms of these insects
parasitize or otherwise consume many other insects
pests. It grows where many others fail to thrive and
can survive harsh winters. Blooms over a long season,
attracting beneficial insects almost as long as you
are likely to need them. For best results use
horehound directly as a companion plant. Stimulates
and aids fruiting in tomatoes and peppers.
HYSSOP: Companion plant to cabbage and grapes,
deters cabbage moths and flea beetles. Do not plant
near radishes. Hyssop may be the number one preference
among bees and some beekeepers rub the hive with it to
encourage the bees to keep to their home. It is not as
invasive as other members of the mint family making it
safer for interplanting.
KELP: When used in a powder mixture or tea as
a spray, this versatile sea herb will not only repel
insects but feed the vegetables. In particular we have
observed that kelp foliar sprays keep aphids and
Japanese beetles away when used as a spray every 8 days
before and during infestation times. If you have access
to seaweed, use it as a mulch to keep slugs away.
LAMIUM: This will repel potato bugs- a big
problem for many gardeners!
LARKSPUR: An annual member of the Delphinium
family, larkspur will attract Japanese beetles. They
dine and die! Larkspur is poisonous to humans too!
LAVENDER: Repels fleas and moths. Prolific
flowering lavender nourishes many nectar feeding
and beneficial insects. Use dried sprigs of lavender
to repel moths. Start plants in winter from cuttings,
setting out in spring.
LEEKS: Use leeks near carrots, celery and
onions which will impove their growth. Leeks also
repel carrot flies.
LEMON BALM: Sprinkle throughout the garden
in an herbal powder mixture to deter many bugs.
Lemon balm has citronella compounds that make this
work: crush and rub the leaves on your skin to keep
mosquitoes away! Use to ward off squash bugs!
LOVAGE: Improves flavor and health of most
plants. Good habitat for ground beetles. A large plant,
use one planted as a backdrop. Similar to celery in
flavor.
MARIGOLDS: (Calendula): Given a lot of credit
as a pest deterrent. Keeps soil free of bad nematodes;
supposed to discourage many insects. Plant freely
throughout the garden. The marigolds you choose must
be a scented variety for them to work. One down side
is that marigolds do attract spider mites and slugs.
* French Marigold (T. Patula) has roots that
exude a substance which spreads in their immediate
vicinity killing nematodes. For nematode control you
want to plant dense areas of them. There have been
some studies done that proved this nematode killing
effect lasted for several years after the plants were
These marigolds also help to deter whiteflies when
planted around tomatoes and can be used in greenhouses
for the same purpose. Whiteflies hate the smell of
marigolds.
* Mexican marigold (T. minuta) is the most powerful
of the insect repelling marigolds and may also overwhelm
weed roots such as bind weed! It is said to repel the
Mexican bean beetle and wild bunnies! Be careful it can
have an herbicidal effect on some plants like beans and
cabbage.
MARJORAM: As a companion plant it improves the
flavor of vegetables and herbs. Sweet marjoram is the
most commonly grown type.
MINT: Deters white cabbage moths, ants, rodents,
flea beetles, fleas, aphids and improves the health of
cabbage and tomatoes. Use cuttings as a mulch around
members of the brassica family. It attracts hoverflies
and predatory wasps. Earthworms are quite attracted to
mint plantings. Be careful where you plant it as mint
is an incredibly invasive perennial. We have found that
placing mint (fresh or dried) where mice are a problem
is very effective in driving them off!
MOLE PLANTS: (castor bean plant) Deter moles
and mice if planted here and there throughout the garden.
Drop a seed of this in mole runs to drive them away.
This is a poisonous plant. See Moles: Critter Trouble
MORNING GLORIES: They attract hoverflies.
Plus if you want a fast growing annual vine to cover
something up morning glory is an excellent choice.
OPAL BASIL: An annual herb that is pretty,
tasty and said to repel hornworms!
PEAS: Peas fix nitrogen in the soil. Plant
next to corn and they will provide extra nitrogen.
Corn is a heavy feeder so this is a great combination!
NASTURTIUMS: Plant as a barrier around tomatoes,
radishes, cabbage, cucumbers, and under fruit trees.
Deters wooly aphids, whiteflies, squash bug, cucumber
beetles and other pests of the curcurbit family. Great
trap crop for aphids (in particular the black aphids)
which it does attract, especially the yellow flowering
varieties. Likes poor soil with low moisture and no
fertilizer. It has been the practice of some fruit
growers that planting nasturtiums every year in the root
zone of fruit trees allow the trees to take up the pungent
odor of the plants and repel bugs. It has no taste effect
on the fruit. A nice variety to grow is Alaska which has
attractive green and white variegated leaves. The leaves,
flowers and seeds are all edible and wonderful in salads!
NETTLES, STINGING: The flowers attract bees.
Sprays made from these are rich in silica and calcium.
Invigorating for plants and improves their disease
resistance. Leaving the mixture to rot, it then makes
an excellent liquid feed. Comfrey improves the liquid
feed even more. Hairs on the nettles' leaves contain
formic acid which "stings" you.
PARSLEY: Plant among and sprinkle on tomatoes,
and asparagus. Use as a tea to ward off asparagus beetles.
Attracts hoverflies. Let some go to seed to attract the
tiny parasitic wasps. Parsley increases the fragrance
of roses when planted around their base. Rose problems?
See: Rose Rx for answers.
PEPPERMINT: Repels white cabbage moths, aphids
and flea beetles. It is the menthol content in mints
that acts as an insect repellant. Bees and other good
guys love it.
PEPPERS, HOT: Chili peppers have root exudates
that prevent root rot and other Fusarium diseases.
Plant anywhere you have these problems. Teas made from
hot peppers can be useful as insect sprays.
PENNYROYAL: Repels fleas. Many people are now
using pennyroyal as an alternative lawn. The leaves
when crushed and rubbed onto your skin will repel
chiggers, flies, gnats, mosquitoes and ticks. Smells
nice too!
PETUNIAS: They repel the asparagus beetle,
leafhoppers, certain aphids, tomato worms, Mexican
bean beetles and general garden pests. A good companion
to tomatoes, but plant everywhere. The leaves can be
used in a tea to make a potent bug spray.
POACHED EGG PLANT: Grow poached egg plant with
tomatoes, they will attract hover flies and hover flies
eat aphids.
PURSLANE: This edible weed makes good ground
cover in the corn patch. Use the stems, leaves and seeds
in stir-frys. Pickle the green seed pod for caper
substitutes.
RADISH: Plant radishes with your squash plants.
Radishes may protect them from squash borers! Anything
that will help prevent this is worth a try. Planting
them around corn and letting them go to seed will help
fight corn borers.
ROSEMARY: Companion plant to cabbage, beans,
carrots and sage. Deters cabbage moths, bean beetles,
and carrot flies. Use cuttings to place by the crowns
of carrots for carrot flies. Zones 6 and colder can
overwinter rosemary as houseplants or take cuttings.
RUE: Deters Japanese beetles in roses and
raspberries. To make it even more effective with
Japanese beetles: crush a few leaves to release the
smell. Repels flies and has helped repel cats for us.
Some say you should not plant it near cabbage, basil
or sage. A pretty perennial with bluish-gray leaves.
May be grown indoors in a sunny window. Rue can cause
skin irritation! Remedy: See cats and dogs: Rue spray.
SAGE: Use as a companion plant with broccoli,
cauliflower, rosemary, cabbage, and carrots to deter
cabbage moths, beetles, black flea beetles and carrot
flies. Do not plant near cucumbers or rue. Sage repels
cabbage moths and black flea beetles. Allowing sage
to flower will also attract many beneficial insects
and the flowers are pretty. There are some very striking
varieties of sage with variegated foliage that can be
used for their ornamental as well as practical qualities.
SOUTHERNWOOD: Plant with cabbage, and here and
there in the garden. Wonderful lemony scent when crushed
or brushed in passing. Roots easily from cuttings. Does
not like fertilizer! It is a perennial that can get quite
bushy. We have started to cut it back every spring and
it comes back in not time. A delightful plant that is
virtually pest free.
SOYBEANS: They add nitrogen to the soil making
them a good companion to corn. They repel chinch bugs
and Japanese beetles. Soybeans are so good for you!
They are many ways to prepare them.
SUMMER SAVORY: Plant with beans and onions to
improve growth and flavor. Discourages cabbage moths.
Honey bees love it.
SUNFLOWERS: Planting sunflowers with corn is
said by some to increase the yield. Aphids a problem?
Definitely plant a few sunflowers here and there in
the garden. Step back and watch the ants herd the
aphids onto them! We have been doing this for years
and it is remarkable. The sunflowers are so tough that
the aphids cause very little damage and we have nice
seed heads for our birds to enjoy! Talk about a
symbiotic relationship!
TANSY: Plant with fruit trees, roses and
raspberries keeping in mind that it can be invasive
and is not the most attractive of plants. Tansy which
is often recommended as an ant repellant may only work
on sugar type ants. These are the ones that you see on
peonies and marching into the kitchen. At least for us
placing tansy clippings by the greenhouse door has kept
them out. Deters flying insects, Japanese beetles,
striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs, ants and mice!
Tie up and hang a bunch of tansy leaves indoors as a fly
repellent. Use clippings as a mulch as needed. Don't be
afraid to cut the plant up as tansy will bounce back from
any abuse heaped on it! It is also a helpful addition to
the compost pile with its' high potassium content.
* Tansy Warning: You do not want to plant Tansy
anywhere that livestock can feed on it as it is toxic
to many animals. Do not let it go to seed either as it
may germinate in livestock fields.
TARRAGON: Plant throughout the garden, not many
pests like this one. Recommended to enhance growth and
flavor of vegetables.
THYME: Deters cabbage worms. Wooly thyme makes
a wonderful groundcover. You may want to use the upright
form of thyme in the garden rather than the groundcover
types. Thyme is easy to grow from seeds or cuttings.
Older woody plants should be divided in spring.
WHITE GERANIUMS: These members of the pelargonum
family draw Japanese beetles to feast on the foliage
which in turn kills them.
WORMWOOD: Keeps animals out of the garden when
planted as a border. An excellent deterrent to most
insects. A tea made from wormwood will repel cabbage
moths, slugs, snails, black flea beetles and fleas
effectively. The two best varieties for making insect
spray are Silver King and Powis Castle. Adversely Powis
castle attracts ladybugs which in turn breed directly
on the plant. Silver Mound is great as a border plant
and the most toxic wormwood. Note: As wormwood actually
produces a botanical poison do not use it directly on
food crops.
See More on wormwood. for more details.
For insect spray: See wormwood spray
YARROW: Yarrow has insect repelling qualities
and is an excellent natural fertilizer. A handful of
yarrow leaves added to the compost pile really speeds
things up. Try it! It also attracts predatory wasps
and ladybugs to name just two. It may increase the
essential oil content of herbs when planted among them.
Yarrow has so many wonderful properties to it and is
an ingredient in our own Golden Harvest Fertilizer.
Update: 06/28/05
http://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html
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