Help Peach Trees Thrive With A Companion Plant They Love

Peaches are juicy and delicious snacks, and growing your own gives you access to the freshest fruit available. Unfortunately, stone fruits like peaches are also prone to damage by a wide variety of insects, including Japanese beetles, oriental fruit moths, and peachtree borers. However, the right companion plant can help to deter at least some of these pests. Garlic (Allium sativum) is known for its ability to repel a range of pests, making it a great companion for peach trees (Prunus persica).

With garlic being such a low-growing plant, rarely reaching above 2 feet or so, it's perfect for planting under peach trees where it can help to discourage pests that would otherwise decimate your tree. Garlic has shallow roots, so it shouldn't disturb your peach tree underground. Additionally, the two plants grow in similar conditions, making them easy to pair together. While peach trees can grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9, garlic is generally hardy in zones 4 through 9. 

Both garlic and peach trees need full sun to grow their best, so be sure the branches of your tree don't accidentally shade out your garlic. They also both need moist but well-draining soil. Garlic requires a fair amount of nitrogen to thrive, so you'll need to incorporate fertilizer into the area surrounding both plants. Fall is an ideal time to plant peach trees, which are perennials and can live for over 10 years once planted. Garlic, on the other hand, is generally planted each fall and then harvested the next spring or summer.

Peach trees aren't the only plants that garlic is considered a great companion for. It's popular to pair it with potatoes and lettuce as well, helping to deter their pests. You can also plant garlic next to lemon trees and other fruit trees. While garlic's strong and pest-repelling scent makes it a great companion for many plants, surprisingly, garlic and beans aren't considered complementary vegetables in the garden. In fact, garlic is believed to impede the beans' growth. So, be cautious when using it as a companion plant for other fruits, veggies, and herbs.