Planting This Flowering Ground Cover Helps Garden Fruit Trees Thrive

Unfortunately, planting a thriving fruit garden isn't as simple as watering a few plants. There are pests and pollinators to think about, soil and sun to consider. But believe it or not, there is a companion plant you can add to your fruit garden that will cover the ground and help your garden fruit trees thrive. It's called borage, and it's prettier than it sounds. 

Borage is an annual, flowering plant in the same family as forget-me-nots. It's fairly hardy and low-maintenance and does well in most soil and various levels of sunlight. Borage is a great addition to your fruit garden because it attracts pollinators like bees and hummingbirds and fully covers the soil, keeping it damp and protecting important insects that keep pests away and help your fruit trees grow. Its very presence in your fruit garden promotes biodiversity and enriches the soil with its constant turnover of organic material. This creates the best possible environment for your fruit trees and bushes. 

Another benefit of borage is its beauty! The plant has small but vibrant blue-purple flowers that add a gorgeous pop of color to your garden. Its fuzzy-looking stems also add to the drama. The flowers and leaves of the borage plant are edible, as well. It's not just beneficial for the fresh food you're growing in your garden. It also qualifies as fresh food itself! You can add the edible flowers and leaves of your borage plants to your salads or cocktails; they're said to have a slight cucumber-like flavor.

Borage is a notably effective plant to help your garden grow, whether you're cultivating fruit trees like strawberries, blackberries, and apples or all manner of vegetables. Many consider borage just as effective an addition to a vegetable garden as to fruit garden, especially those growing tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash. Strawberries and tomatoes in particular seem to benefit significantly from being planted alongside borage. Strawberries planted near borage can have better flavor, and tomatoes, which are somewhat delicate and quite prone to disease, are often a bit healthier when borage accompanies their growth.  

Committing to a fruit or vegetable garden is no easy feat, but there are ways to make it easier on yourself. There are some beginner-friendly fruit trees and fast-growing fruit trees you'll want in your yard, including apple and fig trees. Starting a fruit and/or vegetable garden takes an immense amount of planning, knowledge, and practical know-how. Lean on elements like borage, which is one of those additions that may be some effort up front but ultimately does a lot of the work for you. And watch your fruit trees thrive!