Resiliency as a Product of Relationships: Plants and Plants. Part 1: Services That Plants Provide Above Ground

Soon after I started gardening, I discovered companion planting and was very drawn to it. Why?
I grew to like the idea that I do not need to control everything or anything. I would like to see plants fend for themselves and thrive in their own “ecosystems” without having to lean on me as a crutch. True friendship seems more desirable than co-dependency in any relationship – as with us humans, so it should be in the garden. I would rather spend my time admiring my plants than having to worry about their daily needs.

Having a garden can be like owning a grand piano. If you don’t know how to use it and produce fine tunes then it is a waste of a piano. If we have a garden then why not learn how nature can take care of it efficiently? Even if you don’t currently have a garden, you would do well to learn this, because one day you probably will. Until then, patio gardens can be surprisingly delightful and can help you develop great gardening skills. They are a great way to start practicing permaculture methods.  

Many plants, including weeds that “volunteer”, and other plants that we can easily add to our gardens can provide various important services to our soil and to other plants near by. When I heard about this, I didn’t know which plants provide which services, so I opened my ears and eyes and learned from many others. I am always experimenting with various plants and am still excited to learn about more.

It is good to know that when planted together, some plants become good neighbours, improving the growing environment to benefit their community. So, let’s check closely to see some examples of the services plants offer each other. We will dig in and find out plant services and their contributions to the garden. The list is long so I divided it into two separate posts.

So now we can put our tools to the side, because our plants will be doing our garden work for us.
 
Plants give services both above ground and under ground level. We will start by exploring the above ground services. Above ground, some plants emit a scent that repels pests, these are called “pest confusers”. Some plants draw pests onto themselves and away from crops and are called “Trap crops”. Some plants draw beneficial insects that are either predators or parasitic to attack pests. Their presence in the garden is valuable in keeping pest populations down at a level that does not cause substantial damage. Some plants attract pollinators to the garden that help our crop plants produce many fruits.

Plants can wage natural chemical warfare on insects. Insects use scent to help them locate food. Therefore, strong scented plants and herbs such as those in the onion and mint families may be intermingled with crops that confuse and repel pests.

Some plants serve as ground-covers that keep moisture in the soil and prevent weeds from growing in it. Examples for this can be strawberry, white clover, comfrey, wild ginger, and catnip. Other plants that are not considered ground covers can achieve the same result if planted close enough.
 
Plants grown together create a micro climate that is higher in humidity and therefore warmer. They serve as wind breakers and provide each other with shade that reduces sun scald. Because their roots hold moisture and improve the soil moisture holding capacity, they are much less affected by drought. Plants nurse their young seedlings. In fact, studies showed that young seedlings had much better chances of survival when growing under mature plants than when out on their own.

A strategy of high crop diversity is proven to reduce insect pests and plant diseases. For example, beneficial wasps and flies are attracted to flat-topped flower clusters of plants such as dill, parsley, carrot, coriander and parsnip.

Many gardeners in my town were desperately fighting Japanese beetles this summer. I had seen only one Japanese beetle in my food forest all summer. Garlic chives, garlic crops and many aromatic herbs of the mint family such as catmint, bee balm, thyme, oregano, basil and mint (mint planted in pots to keep them from spreading) are planted all around my gardens, as well as sweet alyssum and tansy which provide the same service.

One of my favourite companions is growing petunias with peppers. They always impress me with their looks, health, vigor and productivity when planted in the same pot or bed. I was not sure why this was, but according to companion planting guides petunias repel many pests. They rid the garden of aphids, cabbage and tomato worms, beetles, and leafhoppers. They are most useful in vegetable gardens where beans, corn, peppers, broccoli or cabbage is grown. Petunias are easy to start from seeds in early spring so many of them can be grown without any great expense.

Aside for their chemical scent, when planted close together in groups, plants emit vapour from leaves increasing the humidity and cooler temperatures around the plant community.

Plant a greater diversity, plant in groups, called in permaculture terms “plant guilds”, and plant them in the same planting hole or very close and you will achieve higher flower density, more beneficial insects, reduced populations of harmful pests and no need for you to wage war against them. Your fruit will grow in abundance and you will have all the nutrition, tastes and aromas that you need, and more.

Friendship, unity, protection and care are principles of nature. When you allow them to rule in your garden, you will enter a new dawn in gardening.