Join Angela Chandler as she teams up with Beverly Welch to explore the fascinating world of Fruit Tree Guilds. But wait, we’re not talking about the kind of guid you’re probably thinking of! It’s not a club!
This discussion delves into the realm of Companion Planting, Regenerative Agriculture, and Permaculture, all wrapped up in one intriguing package.
So, why should you consider it? Fruit Tree Guilds offer a dual advantage:
1. Boosting Tree Health: By incorporating this holistic approach, you’ll enhance the well-being of your fruit trees, resulting in healthier and more productive orchards.
2. Expanding Gardening Space: Fruit Tree Guilds create additional gardening areas for cultivating herbs, vegetables, and perennials, maximizing the potential of your garden.
Discover how to elevate your fruit tree game and expand your gardening horizons with Fruit Tree Guilds. Join us in this exciting conversation!
Plants for Fruit Tree Guilds
Choose plants that will benefit the fruit tree in one or more of these modes:
1) build or improve the soil (nutrient accumulators, nitrogen fixers),
2) attract beneficials,
3) repel pests,
4) provide chop & drop mulching materials,
5) suppress unwanted weeds & grasses,
6) shade/cool the soil (5 & 6 are functions of “living mulch”).
Alliums
Alyssum
Beans
Bee balm
Bluebonnets
Borage
Calendula
Chives
Clover
Comfrey
Coneflower
Dandelion
Dill
Elephant garlic
Fennel
Garlic chives
Leeks
Lemon grass
Marigolds
Mullein
Multiplying onions
Mustards
Narcissus/daffodils
Nasturtium
Onions
Oregano
Parsnips
Pumpkin (small)
Purslane
Radish
Squash
Strawberries
Sweet peas
Sweet potato vine
Wild tomatoes (Matt’s, Texas)
Yarrow
Observe and experiment. This list is not limited. Your guild can be a mix of perennials, annuals, and herbs. Many aromatic herbs can be added. You can mix in a few root veggies as well. Their roots loosen the soil and open channels for aeration and drainage. Native plants are always a good choice. This is an opportunity to claim more garden space while providing a beneficial local ecosystem for your fruit trees.
