How to Use Herbs for Companion Planting

Herbs are usually planted in a garden as food, aromatics or as medicinal plants. Herbs can also be used as companions to other plants in the garden, protecting them or enhancing their growth. Companion planting is a practical form of organic gardening that promotes the use of herbs. Read below to find out how certain herbs can enhance and protect your garden.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Protect members of the cabbage family (broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts) with an aromatic companion like chives, dill, sage or chamomile.

2. Promote the growth of sweet and hot peppers and protect them from pests by sowing with basil. Both plants love hot weather and warm soil, and the basil will enjoy the shade from the peppers.

3. Plant chives around the girth of fruit trees, like apples, to prevent scab disease.

4. Grow comfrey in the garden to use later as a fertilizer. Harvest in fall and add to the compost heap for an added burst of nitrogen.

5. Cultivate mint near the border of the garden due to its invasive nature. Use regular mint to repel white cabbage worms. Use spearmint to repel ants and subsequently aphids, that would normally feed on the ants.

6. Sow valerian in areas of the garden that need added phosphorus. Valerian is good in all areas of the garden since it benefits plant growth in general.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the fragrant herb fennel away from the vegetable garden since it inhibits plant growth.
• Avoid planting the herb mugwort in the garden. It is toxic to other plants.