Companion Plants–Benefits In The Garden

Companion plants are a tradition that has been followed throughout time.  The benefits are tried and tested so that many books have been written on the subject of companion plants. Finding good plants to pair together is fairly easy.  But, why do some plants work with others, and what are those benefits?
Companion plants are grouped together for several reasons. 
1)  One plant can repel insects that typically attack the other plant.

Some scented herbs are repulsive to some insects that may want to devour other plants in the neighborhood. Mint, for instance, will repel ants and aphids.  Fennel repels fleas and is known by the cute, but appropriate rhyme ‘plants fennel around the kennel’. Other aromatic plants that are unattractive by pests are scented geraniums, camphor, lavender, rosemary, and sage.  Inter-plant these in the garden to drive pests away.

A natural insect repellent made from Chrysanthemums is call pyrethrums. When planted as companion plants, chrysanthemums repel insects such as aphids, ticks, bedbugs, spiders and certain insect pests on broccoli.

Basil planted with tomatoes will repel the tomato hornworm. And these two plants make a great combination at dinner time for the family.

2)  Some companion plants can improve the soil for the other.

Legumes are an example of nitrogen-fixing plants.  Legumes can extract nitrogen from the air, and bring this essential element down into the root zone for their neighbors benefit.  Vetches and clovers also have this ability of nitrogen-fixing, and when used as a cover crop, they not only draw down nitrogen, but when they are plowed under, they provide organic material to the soil.

3)  Some plants have similar growing needs and do well together.

Many plants have similar growing requirements.  Some need full sun, some need shade.  Some plants like moist soil, while others do not.  Familiarizing yourself with the growing needs of plants and placing together those that like the same conditions is good companion planting.  Plants that need full sun and little supplementary water make good bedfellows.  Similarly, plants that require moist soils, will be together and make watering more efficient.

Study plant tags or ask the staff at a garden center which plants need a similar environment.

4)  Some companions just look good together.

Textures, colors, and forms of plants that play off of each other make good companion plants.  Colors that match make a good color garden – i.e. a white garden. Colors that are opposite on the color wheel contrast and are pleasing to the eye. Yellow opposite purple, or blue opposite orange, make good aesthetic combinations for companion plants.

5)  Some plants improve the health of it’s neighbor.

Herbs make great neighbors in the garden.  Their aroma is a sensory compliment to roses, and  Marigolds planted around the garden may even encourage growth.
Insectary plants are used to draw beneficial insects to the garden. The pollinators are attracted to plants that have little flower heads, and many florets. These composite flowers of asters, marigolds, zinnias, and lettuces have many parts for the insect to draw nectar called inflorescences.

Trap plants are those that draw insects and are sacrificed to the pests.  Some trap plants are nasturtiums and Chinese cabbage.When the insects are feasting on the nasturtium, they leave the crop plant alone.

Garlic is said to help prevent leaf curl in peach trees, and stop scab in apple trees.  Garlic near tomatoes may repel red spider mites. 


Beneficial habitats, or refugia, are companion plantings that provide good growing environments for plants.  Good insects, including pollinators and parasitic insects, keep pests under control.

Here, nurse crops, help protect others.  the tall plants can help shade plants that may suffer in too much sun or heat. 
Cucumbers are shading lettuce.  Sunflowers can cast shadows on shorter plants - both nurse croppings and good companions plantings. 

 The seed catalogs are out and nurseries are getting their seeds into the stores, so it is planning time for this year’s garden. This is a great time to pair plants that make good companions in the garden.

What companion plants do you rely on?  Which ones disappointed you?  Share your comments, so we all can benefit.  Thanks for stopping by today. 

Pollinators, Predators, Parasites – Beneficial Insects

Beneficial Insects - What They Do 

The three classifications of  beneficial insects, Pollinators, Predators, and Parasites, defines the role each has and the method in which they survive.
Most of us are familiar with Pollinators.  Bees, butterflies, and wasps are vital to 80% of plants in the world.  If plants do not get pollinated, the species cannot reproduce. Life would fail on this planet as the food crops fail.




Pollinators need nectar, shelter, and water to survive. A supply of pollen and nectar are required for the sustainability of the pollinator populations.
 
Parasite insects are quite the creature.  This is a parasitic wasp as it seeks out a caterpillar in the garden
and deposits its eggs in it.
The larvae of the wasp emerge inside the caterpillar and eat it from the inside. 

The Predator insects are interesting in that in some species, the Predator seeks out other pests – whether it is in the larval stage or as an adult.  The most commonly known predator is the Lady beetle.  We probably recognize the
 
adult that is red with black spots .  But the larva is orange with black markings that resembles an alligator.  The larvae, as well as the adult, eat pests. I must say that I have seen this ‘bug’ and did not know what I was looking at.  (Probably smashed a few, too!)
 
Green Lacewing are quite dainty.  The adult feeds on pollen, nectar, and honeydew.

 However, the larvae

are quite aggressive predators as they seek out aphids.

Praying Mantis are general predators in the garden,  They eat anything, including beneficials - even the Lady Beetle.  Larvae have even been known to eat each other.


Minute Pirate Bugs are commonly mistaken for cinch bugs.  The adult and larvae prey on aphids, cinch bugs, thrips, whiteflies and spider mite, to name a few.  Minute Pirate Bugs are a natural predator to other pests that can damage corn crops, cotton, soybeans, and sorghum. 
Sucking mouth parts enable this bug to draw out fluids from its prey.

The Lady Beetles, the Green Lacewings, the Praying Mantis, and the Minute Pirate bug and be bought in the marketplace. The cocoon of the Praying  Mantis are shipped and placed about the garden before they hatch.

 Lady Beetle, Green Lacewings and Minute Pirate Bugs are shipped as eggs or live to release. 

One beneficial I have overlooked in my garden is the Ground Beetle.  Yes, I knew they were there – just turn over a stone, or move leaves.  But I did not know they enjoy a meal of grubs, caterpillars, fly maggots, slugs, snails, and even earthworms. 
 
This Assassin Bug uses piercing mouth parts to feed.  The front legs are designed to catch their prey.  Their bite on the hand of a handler can be painful so use caution. 
The Predatory Stink Bug indeed stinks.  Many species of Stink Bugs are in the environment, and they can be destructive when they suck plants.  There are a few, however, that are not such bad eggs – the Predatory Stink bug can eat beetle larvae, and caterpillars. 

Big Eyed Bugs and Damsel Bugs are two more I have underestimated as to their value.  Both adults and nymphs of the Big-Eyed bug feed on mites, aphids, and insect eggs.  The Damsel Bug uses its front legs to hold its prey which include, thrips, caterpillars, leafhoppers, and other soft-bodies insects.   Damsel Bug  Big Eyed Bug

Syrphid Flies – also known as hover flies – can be mistaken for bees, wasps, or hornets.  Adults feed on pollen, nectar, and aphid honeydew which they use for good egg maturation.  Females will lay hundreds of eggs in aphid colonies.  Larvae  have piercing, sucking mouths, and can eat hundreds of aphids. Here we see hover fly larvae on a cabbage leaf with the larvae of the cabbage beetle.  What looks like a major worm infestation is really one (the hover fly) eating the other (the cabbage worm). 

Reaching for an insecticide at this time would kill both – with the biodiversity of the insects in your garden leaning towards an unbalanced condition.  Maintaining this balance is a natural, albeit a slow, process.  Using even an organic insecticide will kill the bad, as well as the good bugs.  Being aware of the beneficial insects is a good start in protecting our environment.  I know I think twice about dousing the garden with products that many harm. 
Plant good http://gardeningnaturallywithclaudia.blogspot.com/2013/01/companion-plantsbenefits-in-garden.html that will repel insects, or bring in good insects to your landscape. Use fabric to cover rows, and keep the larval state of insects off your crops.  Just be sure to remove the cover so Pollinators can reach the blossoms where they  will ensure you a good crop or a source of seed. 

So,  Pollinators, Predators, and Parasites  - get to know these Beneficial insects in your garden.  

Maintenance Free Gardening (and I have a Bridge!)

Gardening Ideas for Low Maintenance Gardens

I've heard this so much.  "I want a yard that I don't have to do anything."  Impossible - certainly, unless you have a gardener on the payroll!  But  I do have some ideas to make your weekends less 'yard chores' and more 'sit back and enjoy'.

Naturescaping with native plants is the next best thing to 'maintenance free' gardening.

Most 'traditional' landscaping consists of 1) lawn, 2) shrubs, and 3) maintenance.  The lawn needs to be cut, trimmed, and have products like fertilizer and pesticides applied.  The shrubs need to be manicured to keep their boxy shape.  This 'standard' is what we grew up with, and what we feel we need to perpetuate.  The nursery industry encourages us to follow these practices because they have grown lots of these plants and want us to buy them. 

Native plants are quite different.  They have not been cloned.  They have survived the weather. They have adapted to the water availability in the region. Native plants have an immunity or resistance to insects that keeps them healthy.

Incorporating a naturescape into you landscape requires a new way of thinking. 

And that is the idea that 'nature' can take care of our plants so we don't have to'. 

Initially this means we need to choose plants that grow naturally in the area.  There are many gorgeous varieties from which to pick.   So don't feel that you have to settle for a mediocre garden.

This false indigo, Baptisia and Turtlehead are just some of the gorgeous blooms you can look for.  The Baptisia blooms in the early summer  and has been chosen as Perennial Plant of the Year. The Turtlehead blooms in my yard around Labor Day.  Paired with the Sedum, Autumn Joy, which blooms about the same time, this is spectacular.

Naturescaping with native plants offers other benefits.  Besides using less water, once established, these plants need little supplemental fertilizer.  No need for pesticides or fungicides means less dollars from your wallet.
These plants do not require manicureing, leaving your weekends free from yard duty.  Sounds like a win- win for all of us. 

Critters will take advantage of your generosity too.  Seeds, berries, and shelter will draw songbirds.  Populations of songbirds have dropped steadily in the past several decades - up to 5-10%, per year due mostly from the loss of habitat. Pollinator's like bees and butterflies will visit also. 

The naturescape is the best option to a  low maintenance landscape.  Less lawn care, less watering, less pruning, less fertilizing, less spraying for pests. Native plants, trees, shrubs, and perennials, are available in the marketplace.  A comprehensive list is available through the OSU website: ohioline.osu.edu/b865/index.html. 

Naturescape - low maintenance.   Lawn - high maintenance. Just nature scaping a portion of your yard will free up your time and money.  Do you need your yard to mirror the neighbors, or are you ready to step out of your comfort zone and truly be comfortable?  Enjoy.