Fruit Trees (forum)

DonnaL starts with ...
I am about to plant some fruit trees, possibly a stone fruit and citrus tree, these trees will be in a garden which is will be a focal point and need to plant some smaller plants around these fruit trees possibly even a couple of ornaments. Does anyone have any suggestions what will complement the fruit trees and not clash in our new garden Please

Time: 9th February 2010 2:12pm

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About the Author DonnaL
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amanda says...
Lavender and rosemary are great - they attract lots of bees for pollination and will tolerate the greedy roots of the citrus etc. Avoid natives - the fertilising and watering requirements of your fruit trees may kill them off.

Time: 10th February 2010 1:52pm

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About the Author amanda19
Geraldton. WA
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DonnaL says...
Thankyou very much Amanda thats wonderful

Time: 10th February 2010 4:05pm

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Brad says...
gardenias?

Time: 10th February 2010 8:31pm

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About the Author Brad2
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Charles cant spell says...
Garlic chives, garlic, etc, they do well/you can eat them, subdivide them if they get to thick, and are meant to protect your trees from leaf curl and other nasties.
I have no place for ornamentals anymore. Feed your self, the insects and the birds. Ornamentals are a dead loss to the world.

Time: 10th February 2010 11:54pm

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About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Bearded irises can look good under citrus trees as long as they get enough sun. Not likely to compete for nutrients and make a good contrast with the fruit on the trees, especially in a courtyard setting.
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Time: 11th February 2010 12:53pm

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About the Author TyalgumPhil
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Diana says...
I agree with Charles about the garlic. The perennial variegated society garlic between my fruit trees flowers continuously with pretty lavender-coloured flowers and needs no watering. It survives well when divided. I hope it will eventually make a large bed.

Diana.
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Time: 11th February 2010 2:15pm

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About the Author Diana
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amanda says...
Hey Charles - your comment about ornamentals being a dead loss to the world has intrigued me... do u mean exotics or natives?
I also grow society garlic and I reckon it's a dead loss! Pretty, very tough but attracts no "Bennys" at all....

Time: 16th February 2010 12:48am

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About the Author amanda19
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Charles cant spell says...
Well I place Society Garlic in the useful list as I love garlic, and cant grow the local purple garlic very well at the moment and would/have previously use the leaves and flowers in cooking and salads. I don't have society garlic at the moment (my mum is propagating a few pots for me at the moment), but given it blooms more than garlic chives and is hardier and more sun tolerant it certainly will find a place in my garden.

When a say ornamentals I guess I am thinking, 90% of the "landscaping" plants you see in Bunnings (strappy coloured leaves, grassy things, "maintenance free" crap plants :). Also lots of annual flowers etc, Hydrangeas, hibiscus, rhododendrons, etc. Sure they are nice to look at. I just think there are so many varieties of edibles, beneficials, soil toners etc, out there that someone who has a Urban backyard and wants to be healthy and "vegetation" self-sufficient should be able to research, acquire and landscape a beautiful, edible and ecologically friendly paradise of there own.

Sure you will have a few plants that you love to look at/smell/shape/shade, but the majority of the varieties should have a use.
That said I am all for biodiversity so to ensure all plants a fair go and species preservation it is great that lots of people out there plant what they like. I dont want to end up being called a plantist/edablist.

At the end of the day I have moved from a Farm of space I was never interested in enough to transform as a kid, to a Urban Block that has enough room to swing a few cats but not enough to grow eden, and I am bitter :)

Time: 16th February 2010 2:30am

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About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
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Charles cant spell says...
I am looking into planting the stinging nettle, comfrey, yarrow style plants under my dappled shade trees (citrus are probable going to get to dense once they get larger). The idea with these herbaceous perennials is they grow, and breakdown and hence mulch and fertilise at the same time.

I am sure life doesn't work this well, so there are bound to be issues, apart from just the stinging of the nettles. I cant say if the above works or is sensible but it just sounds go in theory at the moment.

Interesting but messy companion planting spreadsheet. http://www.gb0063551.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/seeog/companion/
Decent explanation of the nature of the benefit/companionship http://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html

Time: 16th February 2010 2:36am

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About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
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amanda says...
Sounds good Charles! I have tried comfrey but it doesn't like the heat here. I also read that it can be hard to control and/or get rid of when it's happy?

I can't agree with you more about the "landscaping plants" ! As the odd accent plant I like them - but I reckon too many make a backyard look sterile to me. Each to their own I guess - but maybe that's why there are so few bees around....who knows!?

I am no a permaculturalist (yet..) - but I aspire to the theory of plants having multiple uses - eg - my ornamental shade trees are not only providing shade and lovely flowers but are either nitrogen fixers - or provide food for native creatures and bees, or are windbreaks also.

So far so good - the fauna quotient of the block has improved out of sight and bees are plentiful! :-)


Time: 16th February 2010 10:13pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Kath says...
Charles,I grow dozens of comfrey plants (from one original) & have them in my citrus orchard & along the sides of my vegie patch.. When they get huge I mow them or pick them and put them around vegies, fruit trees & in an old 44 to make a brew. Be careful with yarrow as it tends to take over.
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Time: 17th February 2010 6:35pm

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About the Author KathK
Karnup W.A.
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Charles cant spell says...
Yeah my yarrow is trying to take over, but the mulch is to heavy and they are on drip irrigation, so when they break away to far they die. MUhahahahhahah.
If I had they in a open watering area they certainly would be a handful, still if one is diligent they provide a lot of good liquid fert/composter boost material.

Gosh your garden is organised Kath and yet integrated, what is your profession or are you just well read and logical?

Time: 18th February 2010 11:51am

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About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
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Kath says...
Charles, I'm actually a registered nurse by trade but not working in that field now . I grew up on farms with a Mum that was a great fruit & veg gardener plus have learnt lots from other gardening friends & read lots. As for logical, that's debatable!

Time: 18th February 2010 1:58pm

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