Companion Planting

Proper planting makes a big difference for the wellbeing of your plants. The experts at Greenbloom understand that a diverse mix of plants is required to ensure your garden remains as healthy as possible. Our professional team can help you create a beautiful garden using the right techniques and combinations of plants.

What is Companion Planting?

• The partnering of two or more plant species in a way that is beneficial.
• Plants are typically grown close together or as succession crops.
• There are various combinations of herbs and vegetables which will either help each other or be detrimental, so be sure to research when planting.

Benefits of Companion Planting

• One plant may support the nutritional needs of the other.
• Maximizes available space.
• Can be used as a diversionary tactic if one plant produces an odour which protects the others from pests and predators.
• Helps with pest control using trap cropping. Trap crops, or sacrificial crops, such as nettles, radish, and chervil attract pests and divert them from the main plants.
• When certain host plants are interspersed with other plants, pest numbers are reduced.

Examples of Successful Companion Planting

• Tomatoes, Sweet Alyssum and Lettuce
  • Tomatoes provide shade for the lettuce.
  • Alyssum lures parasitic wasps to control any aphids.
  • The lettuce and alyssum also act as living mulch, keeping weeds under control.
• Sunflowers
  • Start to attract beneficial insects when they are about 6 inches tall.
  • A good trap crop in areas where fruit trees are planted.
  • Choose appropriate varieties for your site, such as dwarf sunflowers if you have a small area, and make sure they do not shade other plants that require sun for their growth.
• Roses and Garlic, Ornamental Allium (onion) or geraniums
  • Garlic protects the roses from harmful bugs, such as aphids, and can help prevent fungal diseases.
  • Garlic is believed to increase the fragrance of the rose.
  • Ornamental alliums, chives, and leeks provide the same benefits as garlic.
  • Geraniums repel Japanese beetles, aphids and other rose beetles.