Creating a successful fruit tree companion planting plan starts with understanding how different plants work together to support your trees. In this guide, you’ll learn how to choose the right mix of companions to boost pollination, build soil health, and simplify garden care. Discover the simple framework that helps backyard gardeners design a thriving, balanced fruit tree ecosystem.
We may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this post, at no additional cost to you.
When I first learned about companion planting, I did what many gardeners do—I tucked a few flowers under my fruit trees and hoped for the best. Some helped, some flopped, and a few grew so aggressively they made things harder, not easier. The result was a sometimes-thriving, sometimes-sad-and-patchy mix of plants that didn't look great, and didn't seem particularly beneficial for my fruit trees.
What made the difference was realizing that companion planting works best when it’s intentional. Instead of planting at random, I started thinking about the roles each companion plays—whether it's attracting pollinators, benefitting soil health, or keeping pests away. Once I started designing around those categories, my trees were healthier, the weeds slowed down, and my harvests improved. And my garden looked much more beautiful!
This final step of the series is all about helping you design a plan that works in your backyard. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to gardening in general, and the same is true for companion planting. Lets walk through how to design a companion plan that works for your fruit trees, one step at a time.
> This is Part 6 in a series of 6 articles about fruit tree companion planting. For complete information about this topic, I recommend starting at the beginning.
Step 1 – Start With Your Goals
Not every gardener wants the same results. Not every fruit tree has the same needs.Your answers to the following questions will shape the mix of companion plants you choose. Before you get too into specific plants, ask yourself:
Do I want to maximize harvests by improving pollination? If you've noticed poor fruit set or a lack of buzzing insects around, add blooms that will attract pollinators to your fruit trees. Learn more about pollinator magnets here.
Do I need to cut down on pests naturally? Be sure to include flowers that attract beneficial insects, trap plants that lure pests away, or strongly scented plants that repel unwanted bugs. Learn more about pest deterrent plants here.
Am I trying to improve poor soil long-term? The more diverse the plants, the more the soil microbiome improves. Choose plants to improve soil that's compacted or lacking fertility. Learn more about soil building companions here.
Or do I just want less weeding and watering? Ground covers and spreading plants that shade the soil keeps out weeds and minimizes irrigation needs. Learn more about ground covers and living mulches here.
Step 2 – Assess Your Conditions
The perfect plant for one gardener may fail in another yard. Consider the following when making a fruit tree companion planting plan:
Climate
What are the conditions throughout the year? Your climate may be hot, cold, wet, or dry - or if you live in Texas like I do, it may be all of the above, depending on the season. When I'm choosing companion plants, I have to make sure they can survive the extreme heat of summer, the wet and humid periods of spring, and occasional deep freezes over winter.
Space
Do you have wide beds or just a narrow ring around a tree? If you have a small space, then planting a rapidly spreading squash vine may cause more trouble than it's worth. On the other hand, a few single clumping plants will look sparse in a large space, and will provide few benefits to fruit trees.
Tree Age
Young fruit trees don't like to be crowded by other plants, as they need a few years to establish a strong root system. Mature trees can handle more companions, and their roots are strong enough to handle a little competition for water and nutrients.
Light
Will plants around the tree receive full direct sun for most of the day, or will they be placed in dappled shade under the canopy? I have made this mistake in the past, choosing plants that need lots of light but situating them too far under a fruit tree. If the tree is dormant, imagine how it casts shade with a dense leafy canopy in the middle of summer.
Effort
It's easy to overlook this one, but be aware of how much work it will take to maintain your chosen companions. Will you have to divide mounding perennials every couple of years? Or periodically pull out a quickly spreading ground cover when it gets too close to the tree trunk? I love using self-seeding annuals such as zinnias or Mexican sunflowers, but be ready to pull out rogue seedling that don't end up where you want them.
Step 3 – Choose Your Plant Team
Now it’s time to pick your players. Aim for at least one plant from each role (and keep an eye out for plants that do double or triple duty): pollinator magnets, pest deterrents, soil builders, and living mulches.
NOTE: Companion planting blends agriculture, ecology, and gardening lore, but much of the advice online is recycled with little evidence. My suggestions are based on research (linked where relevant), as well as experiments & observations in my own garden, with a focus on the whole environment rather than individual plants. Companion planting works best alongside integrated pest management, organic sprays & fertilizers, and other cultural practices.
Below are a few sample companion planting plans for different fruit trees (also called a fruit tree guild). These are only suggestions based on the principles outlined in this series of articles, as well as what I do in my own garden. These plans would all be suited to a modest-sized backyard landscape. There are infinite ways to design a companion plan, but consider using the following as a starting point:
Apple Tree Guild Example
- Chives - Deter pests such as aphids and fruit flies. Can also help prevent fungal diseases like apple scab, especially when planted in masses nearby. Blooms attract bees and other beneficial insects.
- Borage - Beautiful blue blooms that attract tons of bees and other pollinators, as well as predatory wasps that feed on pests. Readily self-seeding, but easy to control, in my experience.
- Strawberries - Spreading edible ground cover. May bloom around the same time as apple trees, attracting pollinators. Needs full sun for fruiting, but tolerates light shade.
- Lupines - In the pea family, so acts as a soil-building nitrogen fixer. Attracts butterflies and other pollinators. Loves sun and very well drained soil, so plant outside the tree's canopy.
Peach Tree Guild Example
- Garlic (or garlic chives, society garlic) - Deters aphids, fruit flies, and other pests. Flowers attract pollinators. Could have some antifungal and antibacterial properties if planted in larger clusters.
- Oregano - Strong aroma may confuse pests away from the tree. Works as an easy-to-control ground cover. Likes drier, well-draining soil and won't compete with the tree for moisture.
- Comfrey - Fast growing, leafy mound with deep roots that can help compacted soil. Often used as a chop-and-drop mulch. Accumulates iron and cobalt, and can act as an easy-to-grow source of nitrogen in compost piles. Plant sterile variety 'Bocking 14' if space is an issue.
- Peanuts - Nitrogen-fixing legume that provides an edible crop. Heat and drought tolerant. Deep roots can help break up compacted soil. After harvesting the peanuts and allowing them to dry on the plants for a few days, spread the plant tops around the tree and allow them to break down into the soil.
- Nasturtiums - Have been show to be effective at reducing pest populations with some crops, but as fruit tree companions they work well as a ground cover. Flowers also attract pollinators and beneficial insects.
Citrus Tree Guild Example
- Rosemary - Strong scent can deter pests. Also resistant to deer and other herbivores. Prefers drier conditions, so won't compete for water.
- Marigold - Many varieties (especially French marigolds) have been shown to suppress populations of root-knot nematodes, a common pest of citrus, fig, and other fruit trees. Can also deter other pests and attract pollinators and beneficial insects.
- Mexican Sunflower - Excellent source of nectar for bees and butterflies. Fast growing, beautiful vibrant flowers, drought and heat tolerant. Avoid planting too close to the tree since it spreads quickly and could compete with roots. Also makes a great "green manure" or mulching plant.
- Alyssum - The tiny white or purple flowers attract beneficial insects, including hoverflies, which are a predator of the disease-spreading Asian citrus psyllid. Also acts as a ground cover, and can even be planted around container-grown citrus trees.
- Parsley - If allowed to live into its second year, parsley flowers attract beneficials like parasitic wasps and hoverflies. Tolerates dappled shade, and when planted densely makes an effective green mulch or ground cover around fruit trees.
Fig Tree Guild Example
- Alpine strawberries - Low growing edible ground cover that can tolerate the dappled shade under a fig tree. Doesn't do well in intense summer heat.
- Lavender - Fragrant foliage and blooms can deter pests, and pollinators love the flowers. Drought tolerant once established, and likes extremely well-draining soil, as do fig trees.
- Yarrow - Likes hot, semi-dry conditions, like fig trees. Flowers attract beneficial insects. Its deep roots can break up compacted soil.
- Creeping Thyme - Beautiful spreading ground cover that won't compete with a fig tree's shallow roots. Blossoms attract beneficial insects and pollinators.
- Daikon Radish - Deep rooted vegetable can help break up compacted soil. Plant as a cool-season ground cover. The fast-growing daikon will quickly fill in the space and block other weed seeds from germinating. Plant outside the tree's canopy to avoid root competition.
Step 4 – Plant and Adjust
Companion planting isn’t “set it and forget it”—it’s an evolving system. Over time, you’ll refine your mix until it suits both you and your trees. In my garden, I’ve swapped out plenty of plants that looked good on paper but failed in practice. That’s part of the fun.
Start small and see how things go. Plant a few companions around a tree and see how they do. Observe which plants thrive in your conditions and which need replacing. Remember, the main goal of companion planting isn't to solve each potential problem with one plant. It's to create a vibrant, biodiverse ecosystem where each plant gives and receives benefits to the others.
Specific companion planting research with predictable, conclusive results may be thin, but overwhelmingly research has found that a diverse polyculture of plants is beneficial in every case.
Companion Planting Design Tips
Here are my final tips for making a companion plan beautiful as well as beneficial. Remember, companion planting is about making fruit tree care easier, not harder. Don't be afraid to try something, even if it's unusual.
- Repeat plants and colors, both to increase their benefits and to make the garden harmonious. Make it look intentional rather than haphazard.
- Mix annuals and perennials for year-round coverage.
- Mass plants together – group in odd numbers, or in clumps. A drift of chives looks much better than one lonely mound.
- Layer plants. Plant something tall with a groundcover under it. Vary sizes and growth habits to fill in the space.
- Don’t forget foliage. Mix together types and colors of foliage – silvery blue, grassy, deep green, chartreuse, spiky, soft and ferny, etc.
- Leave a mulch-free ring around young trunks to reduce stress and pest/disease pressure.
- Don’t try to do everything at once—guilds can be built gradually.
There’s no single “perfect” fruit companion planting plan. Every backyard looks different, and what works for me might not work the same for you. The goal is to experiment, adjust, and enjoy the process.
The Complete Fruit Tree Companion Planting Series:
- Part 1: Fruit Tree Companion Planting (Overview)
- Part 2: Pollinator Plants
- Part 3: Pest Control Plants
- Part 4: Soil Building Plants
- Part 5: Living Mulch
- Part 6: Designing a Companion Plan
