Garden Companions

When gardening, it is always important to remember that just as in real life who gets along with who. Just like in a real neighborhood, certain plants in a garden get along better than others. When planning a garden, try to keep this in mind to increase your chances of success. According to homeandgardensite.com, here are some suggestions for what to plant with what and what to keep seperate from each other.

Companion Planting:

To become a successful organic gardener you need to promote vigorous health in your gardens using various methods; companion planting, composting, mulching, proper watering and using only organic substances; to name a few.

This page will introduce you to companion planting using herbs, vegetables, flowers and even a tree; the willow.

You can help your plants by putting them with neighbors they grow well with. There are also plants that don’t do well together. These pages will help you to grow stronger healthier plants. Strong healthy plants also repel harmful conditions because disease and insects are often drawn to weak plants.

Some plants have substances in their leaves, flowers and roots that attract or repel insects. When you are determined to grow organic it is very important to attract beneficial insects to your garden. For instance, Tachinid flies can destroy squash bug larva. To attract the flies you could plant dill, parsley, fennel or buckwheat, sweet clover, goldenrod, wild carrot or amaranth. Other times repelling a certain insect will be the chosen means of attack. Tansy (fever few), nasturtiums or borage will repel squash bugs.

The following is a guide to help you experiment with what companion plants will work for your area and garden. Also, organic means of control aren’t always 100% effective. The results you are striving for will be a bountiful but healthy harvest, not complete eradication of certain pest.



Alyssum, Sweet - Attracts hover flies which eat aphids.

Anise – Attracts predatory wasps, which prey on aphids and it is also said to repel aphids. Improves growth of any plants growing near it.

Bachelor's Buttons - This plant has a nectar high in sugar content so it is very attractive to hover flies, ladybug, lacewings, and beneficial wasps.

Basil - A good companion with tomatoes; basil improves their flavor and growth and also repels flies and mosquitoes. Keep basil away from Rue.

Bay Leaf - Put a fresh bay leaf in your storage container of beans and grain it will repel weevils and moths. A good mixture to add in your garden would be bay leaves, cayenne pepper, tansy and peppermint for a insecticidal effect.

Beans – Beans will enrich the soil by ‘fixing nitrogen.’ Legumes (beans and peas included) add nitrogen to the soil. Goes well with corn and squash.

Bee Balm - Plant with tomatoes to improve their growth and flavor.

Beets - Beets add minerals to the soil. Good companions would be lettuce, onions and brassicas.

Borage - Plant with tomatoes, squash and strawberries; repels tomato hornworm. Great for attracting bees and more than 100 beneficial insects. Borage may benefit plants growing with it by increasing resistance to pests and disease. Borage will self-seed.

Brassicas – Brassicas are good neighbors to chamomile, peppermint, dill, sage, and rosemary. Some brassicas are broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and Brussels sprouts.

Buckwheat – Referred to once as, “organic Round Up,” because of it’s quick growth it smothers weeds, even thistle and burdock. Buckwheat accumulates calcium, and attracts bees and hoverflies.

Caraway - if you have hard, compacted soil plant caraway to help loosen it up. Also attracts beneficial insects.

Catnip - Repels flea beetle, aphids, Japanese beetles, squash bugs, ants and weevils. Even mice don’t like to be around it. Mints are invasive, be careful.

Chamomile - Improves the flavor of cabbage and onions. Attracts hoverflies and wasps.

Chervil - Radishes will grow better and increase in flavor when planted with chervil.

Chives - Carrots will grow better and improve in flavor when planted with chives. Repels aphids.

Chrysanthemums – To kill destructive root nematodes (not to be confused with beneficial nematodes) plant C. coccineum type.

Clover – A good cover crop to improve soil. Also attracts beneficial insects. There are many different types of clover, each one with qualities that benefit certain conditions.

Coriander - Repels aphids, spider mites and potato beetles and enhances flavor and growth of many vegetables.

Corn - Produces large amounts of pollen to attract beneficial insects. Sweet corn does well with pumpkins and beans, sometimes referred to as “the three sisters.” Indians grew beans around the corn to climb up the corn stalks and squash on the ground around the corn; with each one benefiting from the presence of the others.

Daisy - Attracts beneficial insects.

Dill - Cabbage will grow better and stronger when planted with dill but don't plant it near your carrots. Reported to help control squash bugs. Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars will eat dill.

Fennel - Attracts beneficial insects that are looking for nectar but can inhibit growth of many plants so plant away from the garden.

Flax - Plant with your potatoes to repel potato bugs.

Four-O’-Clocks – Four-O’-Clocks are will attract Japanese beetles but are deadly to them. People shouldn’t eat them either, watch your little ones around Four-O’-Clocks.

Garlic - Roses benefit from garlic since it repels aphids. Repels Japanese beetles and other insects, good for planting near raspberries.

Golden Marguerite - Attracts ladybugs, lacewings, hover flies, tachinid flies and miniwasps.

Gopher Purge - Gophers and moles don't like the odor. Roots spread about 20 feet.

Horseradish - Plant along with your potatoes to keep away potato bugs. To keep horseradish contained, plant in bottomless pots near the potatoes. Blister Beetles don’t like it either.

Hyssop - Good companion plant to cabbage and grapes because it repels cabbage moths. Don't plant near your radishes though.

Larkspur – Like Four-O’-Clocks, larkspur attracts Japanese Beetles which is also poisonous to them. Larkspur is poisonous to humans.

Lavender – Deters moths, aphids and fleas. Used for ages as sachets to keep moths from clothing.

Leeks - Companion for celery and carrots since it enhances flavor and attracts beneficial insects.

Lemon Balm – From the mint family, which are invasive. Sprinkle around squash plants to deter squash bugs. Rub the leaves on your skin to repel mosquitoes.

Lettuce - Likes to grow with carrots, radishes, beets, broccoli, cabbage, onions and cucumbers. Planting amongst corn will give shade to the lettuce during the hotter months.

Lovage - Good to grow with most plants since it improves their health and flavor; also attracts beneficial insects.

Marigolds - Plant among your tomatoes to ward off nematodes. Plant those with a strong scent. Cucurbits (cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, gourds) will benefit from marigolds planted around them to fight off squash vine borer and cucumber beetle. Seed heads scattered around them help also. Beans and cabbage do not grow well around marigolds.

Marjoram - Improves the flavor and increases vigor of all vegetables.

Mint - Repels white cabbage moth and ants. Also improves the health of cabbage and tomatoes. Helps in controlling ants, rodents, flea beetle, and aphids. All mints are very invasive.

Nasturtium – Helps control squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and whiteflies. Use as a trap crop for aphids. Tasty in salads.

Nettles, Stinging – Spray a “tea” of stinging nettles as an insect control. Soak 4” of nettles in water, strain and spray. “Tea” improves health of the plants that are sprayed.

Onions - Repels carrot flies

Ornamental Grasses - Clump forming grasses provide shelter in all seasons for beneficial insects. Studies have shown dramatic increases in numbers where these grasses are growing.

Parsley – Use as a “tea” for repelling asparagus beetles. Parsley gone to seed will attract parasitic wasps, which are very beneficial.

Pennyroyal – Deters fleas, mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, flies and chiggers; rub the leaves on your skin.

Peppermint - Deters white cabbage moth, aphids, flea beetles and squash bugs. Mints are invasive, be careful when introducing into your garden. A better method for use would be to grow in another location, cut stems and leaves then sprinkle around area you want it's repellent effect.

Peppers, Hot – The roots of hot peppers help prevent root rot and fusarium diseases. “Tea” from hot peppers helps repel insects.

Petunia – This pretty flower is also beneficial in controlling asparagus beetle, leafhoppers, certain aphids, tomato worms, and Mexican bean beetles.

Radish - Repels cucumber beetles so plant with cucumbers and squash.

Rosemary - Companion plant to beans, cabbage, carrots and sage. Repels cabbage moth, bean beetles and carrot flies.

Rue - Repels Japanese beetles in roses and raspberries.

Sage - Companion plant for broccoli, cauliflower, rosemary, cabbage and carrots. Deters cabbage moth, beetles and carrot flies. Keep away from the cucumbers though.

Summer Savory - Plant with beans and onions to improve their flavor and growth. It deters cabbage moth and bean beetles.

Tansy - Plant with fruit trees, roses and raspberries and cucurbits. It deters Japanese beetles, stripped cucumber beetle, squash bugs and ants. Tie a bunch up and hang as a fly repellent. Tansy can become invasive; be careful about letting it go to seed. Do Not plant anywhere that livestock feed, can be toxic to them.

Tarragon – Repels many pests, use generously around your garden.

Thyme - Repels cabbage worms, carrot flies and attracts beneficial insects.

Tomatoes grow well with basil or parsley or carrots.

Willow - Willow (including pussy willow) are valuable because they produce pollen early in the spring for provision for beneficial insects.

Wormwood (Artemisia) - When planted as a border it helps keep animals and many bugs out of the garden. Can improve flavor and enhance growth of plants.

Yarrow - Attracts beneficial insects.

Zucchini gets along with beans or radishes.



UNHAPPY NEIGHBORS: Often space is limited in your garden; try your best to keep these away from each other.

Beans don't mix well with Garlic and Onions (Will inhibit plant growth)

Beets and Pole Beans (Will inhibit plant growth)

Carrots and Dill (Will inhibit plant growth)

Corn and Tomatoes don't mix well. The tomatoes may attract worms that feed on corn.

Cucumber and Sage (Will inhibit plant growth)

Peas don’t get along with Garlic and Onions (Will inhibit plant growth)

Potatoes and Pumpkins (Will inhibit plant growth)

Potatoes and Tomatoes can be attacked by the same blights so don't plant together.

Squash and Potatoes (Will inhibit plant growth)

Tomatoes and Potatoes can be attacked by the same blights so don't plant together.

Turnips and Potatoes (Will inhibit plant growth)


When planting your garden, keep your neighborhood in mind and plant things that get along well together. If you keep this one simple methond in mind, you will have a happier, healthier garden and your harvest will be much better for it. Remember that plants are just like people and some compliment each other and some rub each other the wrong way.

It's Frugal Friday!

I know I have been remiss in my Frugal Friday postings, however, water business before pleasure and I have been keeping busy at the office. So today offered the opportunity to catch up on my blog posts and I am going to take advantage of it.

I know many people think that frugal gardening involves having a lot of junk sitting around in your yard under the auspice of art. But that just isn't the case. I think that frugal gardening is all about re-purposing and recyling things and giving them a new and useful life. And no, I am not talking about toilet planters!

Here's an idea I thought was lovely. Turn an old bird bath or better yet, a two or three tiered fountain, into a planter. Since a bird bath generally isn't very deep, you could set a small planter in the middle of the bird bath and plant some annuals. Then in the bird bath, add soil and plant something like moss, that will provide an carpet of green. If you use a plant in the pot that trails or vines, you will create a lovely, antique, drippy look which goes perfectly in a bird bath.

Use the same method for planting in an old fountain. Check Craigslist, Freecycle, thrift shops and yard sales for fountains that are still beautiful to look at, but perhaps have developed a leak or the owners are just tired of them. I saw one on Craigslist for $10. It had no pump and had 2 tiers. Perfect for planting. These make wonderful, classic additions to a garden. And by using them as a planter instead of a fountain, you will eliminate the need for running electricity and possibly water out to the fountain. This will enable you to locate it any where you like.

If you are lucky enough to find a fountain with two or more tiers, you can make a combination planter and bird bath. Having these types of creative features in your garden also helps provide habitat for wildlife. The birds will appreciate the water to bath in and drink and the cool carpet of moss makes a nice place to stop and rest for a minute.

If you have any ideas on re-purposing an item, feel free to let me know. If you have pictures, feel free to send them in and I will post them here on the blog. Let's see how creative we can get!

Meter Reading

Next week the boys will be out and about reading meters. Bills will go out on or about August 2. Remember, bills are due on the 25th of the month. Please remember to pay on time to avoid a $15 late fee. Thank you.

Free Water Saving Kits Available!

We still have water saving kits available for our customers and they are yours just for the asking. That's right. There is no charge for them! Stop by the office at 24917 Marion Ridge Road and ask Becky or Vicki to give you one. They are generally in a good humor and will fulfill your request happily.

The kits contain:

one Earth Massage 1.5 GPM Showerhead with a two setting massage spray.

one Kitchen Swivel 1.5 GPM Aerator with dual spray functinality.

two Bathroom Faucet 1.0 GPM Aerators for half the flow but twice the power. These are commercial grade aerators.

Toliet Water Saver which takes excess water from the bowl and diverts it to the tank to reduce water consumption.

Toilet Leak Detection Tablets which are FDA certified, non-toxic dye tablets used to detect leaks in toilets.

Flow Meter Bag. The bag your kit comes in doubles as a flow meter to identify water wasters throughout the home.

Water Conservation Wheel provides useful ways to conserve water around the house.

Rain Water Harvesting

As the temperature rises, so does the need for water in our gardens. We could debate if we are in a drought or just returning to a normal weather pattern, but the fact is we aren't getting as much water as we would like to have. Yes, this past winter was better than some, but one never knows what the next winter will bring and therefore one good winter tends to leave us with a sense of false security.

We can also discuss water saving methods over and over again, but I think most people know what they are and I also think that most people are actually using them and trying to conserve water. However, the question remains as to what to do in the garden to further reduce water usage? You have added compost to the soil, you have added mulch to retain moisture, you are using a drip irrigation system and have even planted some native plants. But what if you want to grow vegetables or other types of plants? These take water and lots of it. What if you just want to keep your plants alive that are already there?

That leaves one in a quandry. Does one give up gardening of all sorts? Should we let everything die? Should we not try to grow our own food? Should we not plant new trees or beautiful flowers. I hope not, because what kind of a world would we have without the beauty and tranquility of gardens?

The benefits of a garden are many. Housing developments with rocks for yards and no trees for miles around are not my idea of a great way to live. I for one, cannot even begin to imagine living without the benefits of cooling shade from the trees, the privacy that shrubs and bushes provide, the fragrance and color from all the different flowers, the delicious goodness from homegrown vegetables and fruits or the peace and tranquilty provided on a quiet afternoon in a garden.

And what about the wildlife? They too are receipents of the benefits of a green and healthy garden. A garden provides them with food, shelter and protection from the elements. What happens to the wildlife that inhabits our gardens if we had to just let everything die off?

So what is the solution? Is there even a solution at all? I think so. As the drought looms over us year after year, ready to eliminate our ability to maintain our gardens at any moment, we have got to plan ahead and find solutions to provide water for ourselves and our gardens. So what is the solution? Well, I personally think it is rain water harvesting and this is what I will be working towards at my home. When you think about the amount of water just running off our roofs and how it could provide a sustainable source of irrigation water during the summer, why not try to capture it?

One of the many obstacles to this is, of course, the cost. But luckily, there are many ways to do this and I think that it needs to be incorporated more and more into our overall water conservation plans. Yes we have to be good stewards and conserve as much as possible, but why not add rain water harvesting to our bag of tricks?

I have read lots of articles that recommend adding a rain barrel to your downspout to water your garden with, but since the average rain barrel can only hold about 50 to 75 gallons of water, this isn't going to sustain you throughout a long, hot and dry summer. Plus during a rain storm or when snow is melting, it won't be long until it is overflowing. Most people are going to need something larger.

The key is to add as many rain water storage tanks as possible or put in one of those large ones that hold several thousand gallons. If you are opposed to the look of that or don't have the room to put one, here is a nifty solution.

http://www.aquascapeinc.com/why_rainwater_harvesting

While this is pricer than using 55 gallon drums and creating a daisy chain, it is much more attractive and since it is underground, it obviously doesn't take up a lot of room in your yard. I never knew this option existed and for some, it could be the perfect answer. For those of us on smaller budgets, I recommend looking for used 55 gallon drums and you can connect them together with PVC pipe. This is a good way to start capturing rain water, even while on a small budget.

You can do a search on the internet as well and it will reveal many clever ways people across the country and the world are using to capture rain water. Ingenuity is very prevalent in some of these homemade systems and we can get a lot of inspiration and ideas from them.

The whole point is to start saving that rain water and snow in the winter. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all save rainwater and eliminate using our tap water for outside irrigation? Rainwater is so much better for plants and trees since it doesn't contain any chlorine or other chemcials. Think about it. Perhaps rainwater harvesting could be an important tool in our water conserving arsenol.

Gardens

Well folks, with the 4th of July holiday behind us, summer is in full swing. That means outdoor gardening efforts are stepping up. We want to remind everyone that we have lots of mulch available FREE OF CHARGE to help you conserve water in your garden.

If you haven't already, now might be a great time to start a compost pile. Soil that has been amended with compost retains more moisture and therefore makes your watering efforts more productive.

Even if you don't garden, the trees and other plants that are in your yard can benefit from the addition of compost. Compost not only helps the soil retain water, but it nourishes it as well, providing much needed nutrients to trees and other plants you may have in your yard. If you do nothing else, add some compost to your soil.

If you do enjoy gardening and would like to share your garden with others, please feel free to email me your pictures at pcwd2675@yahoo.com and I will happily post them here on the blog.

In fact, I would love to post any pictures you take around the Pine Cove area. So go ahead and email them to me.
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