Which Garden Plants Grow Well Together

09 Jun Which Garden Plants Grow Well Together

As a gardener, it isn’t surprising to know that you have a few favorite plants you’d love to grow. Maybe you enjoy the smell of roses, or the sight of chrysanthemums in full bloom. But did you know that some plants grow better together than others?

That’s right—some plants have a symbiotic relationship where they help each other to grow. And if you want your garden to thrive, you need to know which plants grow well together. After all, you want your garden to be a beautiful, blooming oasis, not a battlefield. 

Want to know which plants grow best with each other so you can create an attractive and functional garden that will be the envy of your neighborhood? Read on as we discuss companion planting, its importance, and some of the best plant combinations for gardens of all sizes.

What Is Companion Planting?

Simply put, companion planting is the practice of growing different types of plants together in order to reap the benefits of their symbiotic relationship.

For example, many gardeners plant tomatoes and basil together. This is because basil helps to repel pests that would otherwise damage the tomatoes. Similarly, marigolds are often planted near vegetables as their strong smell confuses pests and deters them from feasting on the crops.

Companion planting is a great way to naturally protect your plants from pests, and it can also help to improve yields by maximizing space and resources. Whether you’re new to gardening or a seasoned pro, companion planting is a great skill to add to your resume.

What Are the Benefits of Companion Planting?

Companion planting is an art form that’s been practiced for centuries, but in today’s modern world, its benefits are often overlooked. Here are some of the benefits that you and most importantly, your plants, can enjoy:

1. Helps Control Pests

For many gardeners, one of the most infuriating parts of the job is dealing with pests. No matter how well you take care of your plants, pests will always get in the way of their growth.

Fortunately, there is a natural way to deal with pests and yes, you guessed it: it’s companion planting. Companion planting can create an ecosystem that helps keep pests under control. Some plants produce chemicals that repel pests, while others attract helpful predators.

2. Supports the Needs of Other Plants

As any gardener might already know, plants have specific needs in order to grow well. They need just the right mix of sunlight and water, and they need to be planted in soil that contains the right mix of nutrients. Plus, they also need to be protected from pests that can damage their leaves, stems, and roots.

What’s one way to help meet all of these needs? The practice of companion planting. This involves planting different types of plants next to each other in order to take advantage of their complementary strengths.

For example, tall plants can provide shade for sun-sensitive plants, bushy plants can provide wind protection for delicate plants, and so on and so forth. In addition, some plants produce chemicals that deter pests, making them ideal companions for pest-prone plants. As a result, companion planting can help create a balanced and healthy garden.

3. Supports Plant Diversity

In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to be aware of our impact on the environment. By practicing companion planting, we can promote plant diversity. But why is that important?

See, when more plants are able to coexist in their natural environments, this can produce benefits like reducing the spread of disease, attracting beneficial insects, and improving soil health. It can also help to ensure that local ecosystems are able to adapt and thrive in a changing climate. 

By making a commitment to companion planting, we can all do our part to create a more sustainable and resilient world.

4. Helps With Pollination

Did you know that you can create a thriving garden environment that promotes pollination in the most efficient way possible? Yep, that’s right! Companion planting can make it happen.

Certain plants, like sunflowers, attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. By growing these plants alongside others that need pollinating, gardeners can ensure that their entire crop will be well pollinated. In addition, companion planting can also help to improve the nutrient content of the soil and deter pests. 

Thus, it’s easy to see why so many gardeners view companion planting as an essential part of creating a healthy and thriving garden.

5. Saves Space

If you’re a gardener, you know that every square foot of space is valuable. That’s why companion planting can be such a helpful technique. By growing complementary plants in a systematic order, you can save space and still have a beautiful garden.

For example, tall plants like tomatoes can provide shade for shorter plants like lettuce. Plants with deep roots can also help to aerate the soil, making it easier for other plants to take root. 

So if you’re looking to make the most of your space, companion planting is definitely worth considering. After all, a healthy garden is a productive garden.

Which Garden Plants Work Best Together?

Now that you know a little bit more about companion planting, you might be wondering what kind of plants exactly would work best together. Truth is there are many possible combinations. Here are a few of our favorites:

1.Tomatoes & Basil

These two don’t just go great together in the kitchen. They also make a fantastic gardening team. When you grow basil and tomatoes together, the basil actually helps to repel insects that might otherwise feast on your tomatoes. So if you’re looking for an organic way to keep pests away from your tomato plants, consider planting some basil alongside them.

2.Cucumbers & Radishes

Cucumbers need a lot of space to spread out, while radishes are much more compact by nature. This means that you can make the most of your garden space by growing these two plants together. Radishes also deter cucumber beetles that can harm cucumber plants.

3.Beans & Corn

While you might not think of beans and corn as natural allies, they actually make a great team in the garden. The beans will climb up the cornstalks, which can save space in your garden bed and eliminate the need for a trellis. Plus, beans also help corn grow by fixing nitrogen into the soil. In return, the corn provides natural support for the beans to grow.

4.Carrots & Tomatoes

Because carrots are heat sensitive, they pair nicely with tomato plants that can give them some shade. Tomatoes also contain solanine, a natural pesticide that is effective against pests that attack carrot plants. Carrots are also beneficial to tomatoes. Carrots help to aerate the soil around tomato roots, allowing more air and water to reach them.

5.Onions & Carrots

What’s another great pairing for carrots? Onions! These two plants have a symbiotic relationship that is mutually beneficial. The same way that carrots help to aerate the soil around tomatoes, they too can do the same to onion roots. In return, onions prevent pests from attacking carrot plants. It’s a win-win!

6.Lettuce & Mint

Lettuce and mint are both cool weather plants, which means they make a great team. Lettuce provides ground cover for the mint, while the mint helps to keep pests away from the lettuce. Plus, they just look really pretty growing together. There’s nothing like a garden that’s both beautiful and functional!

7.Squash & Corn

Here’s another one of our favorite combos: squash and corn.  Squash helps to keep the soil moist around corn plants, while the corn provides shade for the squash. This is a great combination if you’re looking to make the most of your garden space. Plus, who doesn’t love roasted summer squash with fresh corn? Delicious!

Do You Need Help Finding the Right Plant Combinations? Let Kel Lake Garden Centre Help

It can be difficult to know which plants grow well together, but with a little bit of research and by asking the experts, you can create an amazing garden that blooms all season long. 

At Kel Lake Garden Centre, we are happy to help you choose the best plants for your garden and answer any questions you may have about planting combinations. Contact us today to get started on creating your perfect backyard oasis!