Hi all. I have 4 Red Lake currents, planted this spring. I would like to find companion plants, that I can use to fill around them and eliminate the need for mowing. They are spaced 4’, and mulched, so there is lots of room for other things, but I’m not sure what to use.
I was considering formosan raspberry, but they’re very expensive, and I’m not sure they would fill the area in a timely fashion without buying a ton of them. Was also considering strawberries or lingonberries. Corsican mint was another thought. I’d like things that stay relatively low and are somewhat low maintenance. Think “food forest” but with the currants as the tallest planting— this area is inside our fenced yard, but near to our pool by about 6 feet. My husband would prefer nothing over 6’, to prevent a mess in the pool. Also nothing that would shade the currants too much.
Anna Ground Cover Raspberry - Wholesale - Hartmanns Plant Company unlikely you’ll need as many as hartmanns requires but if you join the group order carpet raspberry is cheap. Other people on the forum can also sell you or trade with you. Raspberries are generally easy to propogate. However, I’m not sure how tasty they are.
Linginberries require acidic soil like a blueberry does and may not make for the best pick.
If you pick mint it may be difficult to maintain in its spot. Other herbs may be good though. Chives especially are good for keeping out hungry critters (supposedly). Sweet woodruff is also a classic.
Strawberries are a good pick I think. Honeyberry is worth considering. May apples are possible.
Thank you! What is a group order? I was looking at those exact ones but couldn’t find enough things I could use for their minimum order. We have a smaller space, I don’t have room for most of the larger things they sell. From what I have read Corsican mint is not as aggressive as other types.
Every year on this website folks get together and make 1 big order together. That way instead of needing to order 10, if 10 people want 1, we can order it at the lower price.
I’m not familiar with that variety of mint. Alarm bells just go off in my head whenever the words “I’m thinking of planting mint in the ground” appear on my screen. There are many types of mint, like clustering mountain mint, which are fine in home settings too
I’m trying out using ground hug and low scape aronia as a ground cover around some bushes and trees. Im also using oregano as a ground cover since it always needs to be divided! Dill is a great one. I divide and transplant monarda (didyma or fistulosa) wherever there’s a spot since it transplants so easily, and it very shallow rooted. Then, since it’s by a pool, I would layer in lots of lower flowering natives/“nativars” for color spring to frost. Don’t know where you are- If you’re in my region/eastern to middle America/former plains areas, I can make flowering native suggestions. There are also threads on here with people talking about what to plant under and around fruit trees that would be helpful to you.
Yeah, I definitely would not plant mint amongst fruit bushes. Monarda I see as safe because even though it spreads, it’s so easy to remove/transplant around your yard or give away. But I tuck it towards the back (since it’s taller 4-5’) and in between things that are more established for root competition. It’s not food for you (if that’s the goal), but it has a strong scent that does seem to deter nibbling, is so pretty and the hummingbirds love it.
One note on the strawberries- that’s clearly a popular choice on this website for undergrowth with fruit bushes (and I planted that way as well this spring), given how squirrel has stolen all but one of my unprotected strawberries in my veg garden, I see planting more of them around my un-netted food bushes as an invitation to see what else is growing there to eat.
I planted red currants as well this year in various mulched beds and have strawberries and herbs around them. If this increase the animal pressure on the currants, i might have to reconsider.
I’ve grown conventional June bearing strawberries (earliglow and sparkle), musk strawberries (Forest honey), and alpine strawberries for ground cover. Alpines are hands-down the choice for groundcover. In my area (East TN), other types just don’t cover their area thoroughly enough to keep weeds out.
i have some improved woodland strawberries from the strawberry store that cover the ground quickly. they dont need as much nutrients as commercial strawberries do… the berries are small but very tasty. i have 4 cultivars of arctic raspberries. they grow and flower great but produce barely any fruit. others have had similar results on here. if your soil is acidic enough lowbush blueberry is another option but spreads as slow as ligonberries do. creeping thyme makes a great groundcover also and needs little nutrients.
The walking onions produced bulbs last year and carried a handfull over to my pear tree.
I just sit them down in the mulch ring… and forgot about them.
They rooted great… got a nice patch there now.
I am going to spread those around to several other fruit trees this year.
I really want to get some Comfrey going too… for chop and drop.
i have plenty of comfrey. think its the bocking 14. be careful where you put it as you will never get rid of it once its established. if you want some root let me know. my walking onions have walked 20ft. in 3 years. the ones that walk on the lawn get chopped by the mower.