Maximize Your Backyard Fruit Harvest with This Proven Growing Technique

Imagine growing your own backyard fruit orchard, but without having to do much in the way of pest control, weed management, or fertilizing because the carefully selected companion plants support and benefit each other. This is the idea behind creating a fruit tree guild, and it's one of the best-kept secrets to growing more fruit with less hassle.

Whether you're new to growing fruit trees or already have apple, pear, or other fruit trees in your yard, this guide explains the concept of a fruit tree guild and how to create one from scratch.

What Is a Fruit Guild?

A fruit tree guild is a self-sustaining mini ecosystem with a carefully curated selection of plants that all support each other’s growth and help fruit trees grow better. Supportive plants deter pests (repellers), attract pollinators and other beneficial insects (attractors), improve soil quality (nitrogen fixers, accumulators), and prevent weeds from creeping in (suppressors and mulchers). The important thing is that all the plants work together in harmony.

Compared to traditional monoculture orchards, fruit tree guilds have several perks. They increase biodiversity, make fruit trees and other supportive plants more resistant to pests and disease, and are ideal for permaculture gardens. Best of all, tree guilds are adaptable to small spaces—and they’re attractive, too.

Best Fruit Trees for a Guild

Fruit trees are the foundation of a fruit tree guild, so it makes sense to put some thought into the type of trees you want to include. Although most fruit trees will work, some trees are especially well-suited for growing in guilds. Just remember to do a bit of research before planting, because some types of fruit trees need to be grown in pairs to bear fruit.

Apples

Most apple trees are not self-pollinating and need to be grown in compatible pairs to fruit. However, placing apples at the center of tree guilds planted with pollinator-friendly companion plants, such as yarrow and chamomile, increases pollination rates and attracts beneficial insects that feed on apple pests.

Pears

Pear trees generally need to be grown in pairs as well, although there are also self-pollinating varieties for small gardens. Like apples, pears grow well with flowering plants like chamomile and nasturtiums, but they can also be grown with soil-improving plants such as comfrey or legumes that naturally enrich the soil and reduce the need for fertilizer.

Cherries

Most types of sweet cherries aren't self-pollinating, but tart cherries will usually fruit when they're grown on their own. To improve pollination and harvest yields, grow cherry trees in guilds surrounded by pollinator-friendly flowers. Plant groundcovers such as wild strawberries around the trees to reduce weeds naturally.

Plum

Many plum varieties are self-pollinating and come in dwarf sizes that are easy to fit in small spaces. If you want to build a fruit guild around plum trees, look for companion plants that repel pests or attract pollinators. Or consider growing plums with cane fruit or strawberries for bigger fruit harvests.

Peach

Like plums, most peach trees are self-fertile and can be grown on their own. Many pollinator-friendly annuals pair beautifully with these trees, but you can also grow peach trees with perennial flowers like bee balm or asters.

Native Fruit Trees

Pawpaws and American persimmons are often overlooked among backyard orchardists, but these native fruit trees have lots to recommend them. If native planting appeals to you, try creating your food forest with these trees and other native edibles like ramps and wild strawberries.

Steps for Planting a Fruit Tree Guild

Once you've selected the fruit trees you want to grow, it’s time to start planting your guild. Here’s a step-by-step look at how to prep the soil before planting, and ways to arrange your plants so they thrive.

1. Improve the Soil

Prepare your planting spot by removing weeds and working compost or well-rotted manure into the top few inches of soil. If you have time, leave a tarp or layer of cardboard over the ground for a few weeks to smother existing weeds and grass and make removal even easier.

2. Plant Fruit Trees

To start, dig a planting spot for each fruit tree you intend to grow in your guild, and make the planting holes about as deep as the tree’s root ball and twice as wide. Amend the soil with compost if desired, position the tree in the hole so that it's at the same depth it was growing in its nursery pot, and any graft unions are above the soil line. Then, backfill the hole with soil you removed from the hole.

3. Add Supportive Plants

Once your tree is firmly planted, plant companion plants around your tree in a way that appeals to your eye. Locate the plants in spots where they’ll receive enough light for their specific needs, and leave enough space between each plant for easy access when harvesting.

As long as they receive enough light, companion plants can be planted directly under fruit trees. However, flowering and pest-repelling companion plants will still benefit fruit trees if you plant them within 25 feet of the tree’s trunk.

4. Water and Mulch

When all the plants are in the ground, water them in, and add a 1- to 3-inch layer of mulch over the soil to keep weeds out and keep the soil moisture in. Leave a space of 2 to 4 inches between the mulch and the trunk to the mulch does not pile up against the trunk.

You'll need to water new plantings until they’re well-established, but drought-tolerant native plants and groundcovers may not need supplemental water once they're settled in.