General News
23 January, 2024
Help your fruit trees thrive
THERE is nothing nicer than enjoying the fruits of your labour – being able to pick and eat fresh fruit straight off the tree in your backyard.
It is recommended that when planting and growing your own fruit trees that you also develop a fruit tree ‘guild.’
A guild is an ancient technique where mutually beneficial species are planted around a fruit tree to create a thriving and supportive mini ecosystem.
These guilds consist of several layers that can be made up of edible plants, climbing plants and shrubs that can co-exist under and around the fruit tree.
There are many benefits to planting a fruit tree guild.
This includes maximising space in your garden to grow edibles; attracting pollinators and other insects; suppressing weeds and reducing root competition and improving the condition of your soil.
Fruit guilds can also help to retain moisture in your soil, balance fungal populations, increase nutrient levels in soil and possibly even deter animals that may cause a problem to your trees.
If you’re relatively new to the exciting and rewarding world of permaculture, a fruit tree guild is a great place to start.
You can chose to have either a stand-alone fruit guild or link some together with fruit bushes and other trees to form a food forest in your own backyard.
This is not only satisfying as you watch your guild (and fruit tree/s) grow, but can also help save money from the family budget.
Here is a list of some of the plants that can be used to create a colourful and beneficial guild:
Dill, fennel, lemon balm, yarrow, daffodils, chives, garlic, rhubarb, vetch, rye, strawberry, white clover, oregano, lavender and marigolds.
There is no guaranteed, fool-proof recipe for a successful fruit tree guild; it’s all about finding the right combination of plants for your space and conditions.
Try to avoid over planting and causing an imbalance. Choose plants that serve multiple functions and seek help and advice from your local nursery staff.
How you plant a fruit tree guild will depend on the space you have available.
Choose a tree that works well both in terms of size and climate.
Be patient. Some fruit trees may take four or five years to produce fruit but they are well worth waiting for and are a great investment.
If you have a small garden, choose a dwarf fruit tree or small berry bush as the central part of your guild.
A combination of trees works well as this will prevent a single disease spreading easily between trees.
To build the base of your fruit tree guild, lay cardboard in a circle around the base of your tree.
This needs to be as large as the ‘rip line’ (where the outer-most leaves will come to when your tree reaches maturity).
Add a layer of compost and soil at least five inches deep but keep it away from the trunk of the tree.
Next, add a thick layer of mulch such as wood chip, and then plant a group of ‘companion plants’ that work together to support your tree.
Along the ‘drip line’ you can plant grass-supressing bulbs which will help to stop grass moving inside your guild and competing with your tree’s roots.
Daffodils are a great option and also add colour. Alternatively, why not try onions, garlic or chives?
Inside the drip line scatter a mix of plants that will soon be buzzing with bees and drawing nutrients from deep in the ground.
Experiment with different mixes until you find something that works well for your space.
As your fruit tree grows you can adapt your guild to meet its changing needs.
Get creative and enjoy experimenting.
