What is a Tree Guild?
A useful way to look at landscaping is holistically. Taking the entire concept into consideration and opting for plants that complement each other helps minimize upkeep and builds a strong scaffold for each species to thrive. Fruit tree guild design is one way to optimize a planting space and create a more diverse producing food garden. Knowing how to plant a tree guild provides practical permaculture that withstands stress and enhances each plant’s health. Permaculture is the planned design of agriculturally productive systems that have the characteristics of a natural ecosystem. Tree guild permaculture takes the concept one step further by utilizing the tree as the main anchor and adding elements into the areas that produce food and creates a stable environment. You don’t have to be a professional landscaper to delve into fruit tree guild design. It does, however, take some research and a concerted plan for the successive plantings. Start with a vigorous, producing fruit tree and work your way down from there. Tree guild permaculture is a perfect melding of plants that work together to sustain the area and provide a productive space. The whole goal is to create a unity of plants with individual beneficial attributes and uses.
Types of Fruit Tree Guild Plants
As you consciously plan your garden under a fruit tree, take into consideration the attributes you need from each species. Every plant should give something to the area and help sustain the entire concept. These plants will provide nitrogen-fixing, fertilization and pollination optimization, pest prevention, diverse food crops, and help retain moisture and control weeds. That might seem like a lot to ask for from a handful of plants, but a careful reflection on the options available to you will help whittle down the most beneficial specimens. You will need understory plants that enhance the growth space under the larger centerpiece tree. These might be smaller fruit or nut trees. Next, you need nitrogen-fixing plants in the legume family to enhance soil fertility. And, finally, select groundcovers and pest preventers such as herbs.
How to Plant a Tree Guild
Once you have selected your centerpiece tree, ensure good workable soil around its root zone. You will be planting trees and plants of successive heights and spreads to create a filled area defensible against weeds and moisture loss. Depending upon the amount of light that reaches the area under the tree, some of the options for larger plantings might be berry bushes, citrus trees, and other small producing bushes. Weed and grass suppressing plants will give food while holding at bay opportunistic pest plants. These may include:
Bulbs Leeks Ramps Other alliums
Next, choose blooming plants with pest repellent and pollinator-attracting properties. There are a host of herbs perfect for this such as:
Comfrey Dill Borage Bee balm
Choose nitrogen-fixing specimens to keep enriching the bed such as:
Clover Lupine Peanuts Pigeon peas
Useful groundcovers to prevent weeds and hold moisture in the soil might include:
Strawberries Red clover Peanut Rhubarb
The actual combinations will depend upon your planting zone, the amount of light, and your food preferences.
