10 Companion Plants That Will Make The Apple Trees In Your Yard Thrive

There's nothing more delightful than seeing a treasure trove of crisp fruits on your apple trees just waiting to be picked. If you want the apple trees in your yard to thrive, you might like to consider growing some useful companion plants around them. There are many good reasons to do this. Flowering species can help to attract pollinators, which you'll need if you want a decent harvest. Strongly scented aromatic herbs can assist in repelling pests that might otherwise infest your fruit as well as attract predatory insects that will feed on these pests.

Companion plants can also help to shade the soil under your trees, which will keep it cooler and retain more moisture. Plus, densely growing companions will keep weeds at bay, saving you a ton of work in your home orchard. Finally, growing a variety of plants near your apple trees is a good use of space and adds aesthetic appeal to your yard. Some great allies for your fruiting trees include chamomile, borage, chives, basil, and nasturtiums. You also want to ensure that you plant two different varieties of apples because these trees are not self-fertile and need the pollen from another related tree to grow plenty of fruit.

When in bloom, chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) makes a great companion for your apple trees because it will attract lots of bees that will go on to pollinate your apple blossoms. This aromatic herb also attracts predatory insects such as hoverflies, wasps, and ladybugs, which will help to keep any pest populations in check. Chamomile is grown as an annual from seed and generally blooms throughout summer. The flowers will look lovely under your apple trees, and you can even dry them to make a soothing tea. 

If there's one plant that deserves a spot under your apple trees or even bordering your vegetable garden, it's comfrey (Symphytum officinale). This very hardy perennial herb has deep roots that seek out nutrients within the soil and accumulate them within its leaves and roots. In fact, it's common for orchardists to plant this herb around their fruit trees, which allows the tree roots to make use of these nutrients. The leaves can also be cut up and used as mulch or to make fertilizer tea. Additionally, bees adore the pretty purple blooms.

Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) is another one of those useful herbs that can attract beneficial insects, like parasitic wasps and adult syrphid flies, to your garden when in bloom. These will help to keep apple tree pests under control. Plus, you'll get the added benefit of being able to harvest the seeds and grind them up to use as culinary coriander in the kitchen. This is another annual herb that you'll want to plant from seeds each year. Plus, it's a winter hardy kitchen herb that attracts beneficial pollinators in the spring. 

You most probably know that basil (Ocimum basilicum) is the perfect companion for tomatoes, but it can also be grown under your apple trees to repel pests and fill the air with its delicious aroma. It's also really good at attracting pollinators if it's allowed to flower. This will help attract those bees that are so necessary for productive apple trees. As a bonus, you may want to explore the benefits of multi-planting, by growing chamomile, the fragrant flowering companion that will give your basil a boost, along with the aromatic herb around your fruit trees.

If you find that comfrey gets a little too unruly under your apple trees, you could consider growing borage (Borago officinalis) instead, as it's much more compact but offers similar advantages. In fact, there are plenty of benefits to planting borage in your edible garden and around your fruit trees. It's a great plant for attracting a range of pollinators such as native bees, bumble bees, honey bees, and syrphid flies. Borage is grown from seed as an annual but you might find that it will self-seed once you have it growing under your trees.

It's believed that chives (Allium schoenoprasum) can prevent apple scab on your fruit thanks to their antifungal properties. When in bloom, they also attract those much-needed pollinators that will ensure you get plenty of juicy apples on your trees. Their strong aroma helps to mask the scent of your apples to keep pests away. Apart from that, they look quite pretty when they're in flower and don't take much to look after except regular watering, which will help your trees as well. 

Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) make the perfect living mulch under your apple trees. They'll cover the ground quickly and help to stop any weed growth. Their pretty flowers also attract hoards of pollinators. This easy-to-care-for plant is commonly used as a trap crop as it will attract pests such as aphids. This is a beneficial way to keep these sap suckers off your trees. You can easily remove the pest-covered parts and dispose of them so that the insects won't be tempted to move onto your trees. 

For effective pest control without the need for chemicals, you might want to consider growing dill (Anethum graveolens) around your apple trees. This aromatic herb is particularly good at attracting beneficial insects such as parasitic wasps, which will help to control any pest infestations you might experience. Dill produces large umbels of tiny yellow flowers, which are excellent for attracting those smaller predatory insects you want in your garden as a natural pest control. Remember to regularly prune dill in your garden for a bountiful harvest.

If you want to create more biodiversity in your yard, you might like to use fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) as a companion plant for your apple trees. Like dill, it will attract beneficial insects as well as pollinators such as butterflies. You'll also find that fennel is a host plant for the larvae of the beautiful swallowtail butterfly. Just be aware that this herb is regarded as invasive in West Virginia, Oregon, and Washington, so avoid planting it in these areas and check with your local municipality before growing it in your garden.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is another plant regarded as a dynamic accumulator, which means that it sends roots deep down into the soil to collect nutrients and then stores these in its leaves. If you cut the leaves back, you can use them as mulch around your apple trees, and they'll provide some extra feed. As a clumping plant, lemongrass is also quite effective for weed control. Plus, it can be used for repelling certain annoying insects, like mosquitoes, due to its strong aroma.