Companion Plants: Allies in Your Gardening

Fight pests the eco-friendly way with companion planting. Photo Credit: Maddalena Serra

Companion planting is a technique that involves planting species that complement each other. Companion plants can attract helpful insects and repel harmful ones.

Plants have substances in their roots, flowers and leaves that can not only attract or discourage insects but also enhance the growth and flavor of other plants that are cultivated nearby. For the same reason, when you plant together species that don't get along well, either because they have odors or attract unwanted bugs, you see that some of the plants nearby might die or have their growth slowed down.

Companion planting has been used as an environmentally friendly way to control pests that can't stand the presence of certain plants. For example, if you don't want to have ladybugs around your house, use bay leaves, which will chase them away. Catnip is great to combat ants and mice, besides other unpleasant bugs, such as beetles.

More companion planting ideas follow. All plants mentioned are Southern California-friendly and don't use too much water, You can find more information on water-friendly plants at http://www.bewaterwise.com/Gardensoft/browser01.aspx, and be sure to read the August issue of Southern Sierran, which will focus on water conservation. For more information on companion planting and a plant guide list, check out http://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html#WORMWOOD.

Marigolds repel aphids, white fly, carrot root fly and tomato worms. It's good to plant them near your vegetables and root crops, because the Marigold's strong smell distracts the bugs. Slugs also seem to think they make a better dinner than your veggies.

Basil: Everyone loves cultivating basil. Just remember it needs plenty of sun and it doesn't like being near sage or rue. Plant basil near peppers, oregano, asparagus and petunias - it will be happy with that. Basil also helps the flavor of tomatoes and repels thrips, flies and mosquitoes.

Roman Chamomile is a friend to anything you plant in your garden.

Strawberries like borage, lettuce, onions, spinach and thyme, but dislike cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts and cauliflower. Borage actually helps build resistance to insects and diseases, and thyme nearby strawberries can stop worms.

Geranium: These beautiful blooms repel cabbage worms, Japanese beetles and distract beet leafhoppers, carriers of the curly top virus, which can destroy and deform other plants.

Lavender has a great smell that some people find very calming. It protects other plants around it from whiteflies and repels fleas and moths. It also helps attract beneficial insects.

Peppermint discourages the presence of white cabbage moths, aphids, flea beetles and other insects. Bees like it.

Rosemary stops cabbage moths, bean beetles and carrot flies from invading your vegetable garden and has a wonderful light fragrance.