Companion planting: Your secret to a healthy garden

by Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES 05/12/2024

Companion planting is the practice of placing certain plants next to each other in your garden for various benefits. While some plants don’t play nicely together and should be planted far apart, others thrive in proximity with specific companion plants.

If you’re interested in taking your vegetable garden to the next level, here is some information about the benefits and applications of companion planting you should know:

Benefits of companion planting

Depending on the combination of plants, there can be multiple benefits to companion planting. Some primary benefits are:

Shelter: Larger plants can protect smaller, more delicate ones from wind or harsh sun. Similarly, ground cover plants protect exposed soil to keep out pests.
Attracting beneficial insects: Flowers can attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators to your garden to spread pollen and improve the overall health of the local environment.
Improving the soil: Many vegetable plants affect the condition of the soil. Companion plants might improve the soil by adding key nutrients, or help retain moisture through their root systems.
Improving flavor: Some plants can even affect the growth and flavor of certain foods grown in the same garden. Herbs like basil, mint parsley and lemon balm are known to improve the flavor and strength of tomatoes when used as companion plants.
Pest control: One of the most important functions of companion planting is to protect vulnerable vegetables and other plants from pests. Companion plants can do this by either attracting insects to themselves as decoys, or by repelling them from the garden entirely with their scent.

Avoiding companion planting conflicts

While there are many beneficial combinations of companion plants to consider for your garden, there are also some plants you should keep away from each other.

Plants that attract the same kind of pest can leave both vulnerable to infestation. For example, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and potatoes all have foliage hornworms love to eat. So, if you’re growing tomato plants, reconsider where you want them before planting near any of these other vegetable plants.

Another potential issue in companion planting is that some plants inhibit the growth of others by releasing certain chemical compounds into the soil. Fennel is one such plant, as are walnut and butternut trees.

It’s also important to follow planting guidelines for proper spacing. Making sure each plant has enough space to grow - both above ground and below - is paramount to a happy garden.

No matter what type of garden you have at home, knowing the basics of companion planting will benefit you and your plants.

About the Author

Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES

Ann Marie Damashek has always been a natural at helping people prepare their homes for sale. She started out with a successful business selling goods for people on eBay. "Nine times out of ten they were hiring me because they were down-sizing,” Ann Marie says. "So I decided to get my license. I said, ‘Might as well sell their house too.’” The transition was a smooth one and for nine years she’s had a thriving full-time real estate business that allows her to marry her entrepreneurial spirit with her passion for helping others. With an office in Larchmont, New York, she serves all of Lower Westchester County, with her primary market in the Sound Shore region. The majority of her business is "sphere of influence” with former clients referring her to friends and family. A gifted communicator, Ann Marie quickly builds trust and rapport with her clients by being both thoughtful and responsive; she understands that during the purchase or sale of a home, a quick response time is crucial. "I am very accessible,” Ann Marie says. "I always make time for my clients. They can call me, text me, email me up until 10 o’clock at night and I will respond. I’m available on weekends. I get back to people very promptly. I’m very customer service-oriented.” Her clients appreciate her professionalism, passion and enthusiasm and as a result her repeat and referral rate continues to grow each year. While selling real estate is serious business, Ann Marie knows that at times humor and a moment of levity can be a relief to clients. While she has a laidback and easygoing personality, she can be assertive when needed on her clients’ behalf. She loves being of service to them, and the continually changing nature of the work keeps her engaged and fulfilled. "It’s never boring,” Ann Marie enthuses. "Every day is different. That’s probably what I like most about it. But I also enjoy helping people sell or buy and educating them about the process. I love helping them achieve their goals.” This ethic of service has resulted in well-deserved recognition. Ann Marie has received the Westchester Magazine Five Star Real Estate Agent Rating four years running, in 2015 and 2016 she was the #1 agent in her office, and she’s a Zillow 5-Star Premier Agent. To keep in touch with former clients, Ann Marie sends cards to mark special occasions or reaches out via email. To market her listings, Ann Marie uses Multiple Listing Services (MLS), as well as Listingbook.com, a service that allows both agents and their clients access to MLS data. She also uses a Facebook business page and ads to boost new listings or promote upcoming open houses. "That drives a tremendous amount of traffic,” Ann Marie says. She also uses the most popular real estate websites such as Zillow and Trulia. A strong believer in giving back, Ann Marie sits on the Board of Trustees of her church and is involved in a variety of social justice projects. She’s affiliated with Furniture Sharehouse, a furniture bank for Westchester County, which collects and distributes gently used furniture free of charge to those in need. "I love it on so many levels because as a realtor, it’s helps my sellers downsize through charitable donations. I like the environmental aspect of it as well. And it helps people who truly need things.” She’s also involved in Impact 100, a women’s philanthropic giving organization. In her free time, Ann Marie enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. For the future, Ann Marie wants to continue expanding her business and developing her brand, and she someday hopes to grow a strong team. But her main goal is to stay in the real estate business, helping her clients to achieve their dreams.