Integrated/Companion Planting

Many plants have natural substances in their roots, flower and leaves that can repel or attract insects. The trick; of course, is to know which plants will do the attracting and which ones will do the repelling. This is a science that Herbalist and Horticulturist have been studying for centuries and in my opinion...they have only just scratched the surface.

Probably the best study of this is nature itself. It appears that when God sits things in order, they seem to work in perfect harmony. However, when man steps in and thinks he can do a better job is when that harmony seems to blow up in our face.

Therefore, in my opinion, what we need to do is copy or duplicate nature and they way she sits things in order. Our ecosystem works on the process of integration where ever we go. So what we need to do is to incorporate this same philosophy into our own gardens.

It is not for me or even a horticulturists to say what is best for your little plot of land that you call your garden. The main reason is because of the fact that your garden is not like mine, nor is my garden like my neighbors. I would assume that in order for a Horticulturist to make the best decision for companion planting in your garden would be for them to design the garden from the very beginning.

And I will also offer you this small peice of information...it doesn't matter who designs your garden or what type of a degree they have...you're going to have bugs in your garden. It's nature for heavens sake.

Therefore, my suggestion is to first prepare and maintain your garden site as I have outlined in my book Simple Gardens Exposed. This process alone will cut the bad bugs and disease in your garden by at least 50%. Then I would suggest Integrated or companion planting. However, I don't feel that making a science out of the project is that important. The most important aspect of Integrated planting is to just MIX IT UP!

One tip that I will give you is to plant Garlic. Plant lots of Garlic everywhere. Plant it among your lettuce, cabbage, beets, corn etc. Don't be shy about it. If you don't the stuff, then give it to your neighbors and friends, but grow it. Garlic is a very strong smelling plant and their aren't many critters that like it. And the ones that do usually are under the soil. Garlic is not so much of a bug repellant as it is a cover-up. It's odor is so strong and far reaching that the bugs receptors will smell only Garlic instead of your lettuce. So plant lots of Garlic and send the bugs over to your neighbors garden.

I could spend probably two or three pages telling you which plants to plant next to your carrots and beans, and another two or three pages telling you what I don't know about what to plant next to where. Much of what scientist tell us is factuall, but the rest of it...I think the jury is still out.

I am all about simplicity in the garden. That's why I wrote my books. Why complicate what nature does so easily. Therefore, here is my very simple suggestion to companion planting. JUST MIX IT UP! Don't just plant a single row of anything. Start with some lettuce, then plant some carrots and then Garlic, then plant some herbs and so on and so on.

Plant lots of flowers in you gardens. Plant them every where. Don't go just helter scelter and throw the seeds in your garden like your feeding the chickens. You want a neat and organized garden, but inter-plant the flower among all the fruits and veggies. Just a few of the flower I like to plant in my garden is Coneflower,asylum,daisy,goldenrod and cosmos. These are anuals that attract butterflys and bees. Just make sure that they are anuals.

So naturalize your garden. Create an ecosystem that more closely immitates nature. If you have ever gone into an area that is relatively untouched by man; you will see that there is a few trees, some grasses, some flowers, bushes and etc. Nature just mixes it up.

You know that your garden is going to attract some bad bugs, but some of those flowers are going to attract some of the good bugs. And; of course, some of the good bugs eat the bad bugs and then your going to attract some birds also, and they are going to eat a few of the good bugs. What have you created?...harmony. Nothing seems to get out of control.

Plant lots of herbs. It doesn't matter if you like them or not...plant them and let some of them go to flower. This will attract a tremendous amount of good bugs. Bugs that will help pollinate your garden.

Don't get all tied up in knots about what to plant where, or what to plant next to what. In mixing up your garden in this manner, you will have a much healthier garden and you will have created a patch of ground that well resemble a miniature eden that you will love to work in.