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Companion planting is a very simple and reasonable idea. Think about the relationship between you and your best friend or you and your spouse. The other is your companion that not only supports you, it also helps you grow. Plants can benefit from a companion as well. Companion planting is the act of arranging a garden so that certain plants grow better near some plants than they do near others or when alone. Experience has shown us that companion planting vegetables can lead to enhanced quality and growth. This also means you will gain a bigger yield. Companion planting can improve your use of space, reduce the number of weeds and pests, and can provide protection from severe weather.  Here’s everything you need to know about companion planting. 

Companion planting is normally used in connection with vegetable gardens, but it can also work for flower gardens. Keep in mind companion planting has been around for a long time. Many people have even learned by trial and error. It’s experimentation with plants that has shown what works and what does not. It’s part of the fun of gardening. You’re building environments in which living things can grow and thrive. 

Over time, many people have developed companion planting charts as a map for which plants get along with each other the best. It’s important to understand that not all companion planting charts are the same. You’ll even find that most companion plant charts conflict with one another.  Don’t be too alarmed by these charts. The simple fact is that companion planting is not completely understood or explained by science. However it is explained by experience, which is what most of these charts are made of. Through experience there are proven guidelines for companion planting which is outlined in a number of charts. Find a chart that fits you the best and use it to see what works for you. While following a companion planting chart, there are 5 advantages that your garden will benefit from. The benefits include shelter, support, beneficial insects, soil improvement, and decoy plants. Larger plants are great companions for smaller plants that don’t need too much sun. Some plants can even be used to support other plants. For example, in vegetable gardens pole beans can use corn as a trellis. A flower full of colors can attract beneficial insects that can help spread pollen in your garden. Some vegetable plants can serve as soil enhancer like members of the legume family which pulls nitrogen from the atmosphere and distributes it across the soil around them. Finally, some plants serve as decoys that can help mask and emit odors that distract pests. 

Two things you should not do is plant around walnut trees or plant your garden around large trees and shrubs.  Walnut trees release a chemical into soil that makes it difficult for other plants to grow. Other trees and shrubs tend to be super competitive and will compete for nutrients and sunlight. To prevent your garden from suffering don’t plant near trees and shrubs.  Companion planting is truly beneficial for any garden, but is not the same for everyone, everywhere. It will require plenty of experimentation to truly find what works best for you in your area.