Need some ideas? Read on…
The Easy Abundance
Starring: Mulberry (Morus rubra) as the center tree, native to the U.S. with edible berries
Optional star choice: Medlar (Mespilus germanica)
Featuring: Goumi (Elaeagnus multiflora) as the nitrogen fixing shrub with edible berries
Supporting cast:
- Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) as edible, insectary, and pest confuser
- Russian Comfrey, Bocking 14 (Symphytum Uplandica) as medicinal, mulch maker, insectary, and soil improver
- Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) as medicinal, ground cover, and insectary
- Winecup or Purple Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata) as native, edible, insectary, ground cover, and soil improver
- Japanese Giant Red Mustard (Brassica juncea) as edible, medicinal, soil improver, and insectary
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) as native, medicinal, insectary, and wildlife food
- Lovage (Levisticum officinale) as edible, insectary, soil improver, and beneficial insect attractant
- Yarrow (Achille millefolium) as native, medicinal, edible, insectary, soil improver, and beneficial insect attractant
The Native Bounty
Starring: Wild Plum (Prunus americana) as the center tree, native to the U.S. with edible fruit
Optional star choice: Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana, two trees needed), Paw Paw (Asimina triloba, two varieties needed)
Featuring: Silver Buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea) as the nitrogen fixing shrub, native with edible berries
Supporting cast:
- Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) as native, edible, medicinal, insectary, and mulch maker
- New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) as native, medicinal, nitrogen-fixer, mulch maker, insectary, and soil improver
- Wild Garlic (Allium canadense var. lavendulare) as native, edible, medicinal, pest confuser, and insectary
- Winecup or Purple Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata) as native, edible, insectary, ground cover, and soil improver
- Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) as native, edible, medicinal, mulch maker, and insectary
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) as native, medicinal, insectary, and wildlife food
- Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) as native, edible, medicinal, insectary, soil improver, and ground cover
- Yarrow (Achille millefolium) as native, medicinal, edible, insectary, soil improver, and beneficial insect attractant
The Cultivated Taste
Starring: Apple (Malus pumila) as the center tree with edible fruit (two varieties needed)
Optional star choices: Pear (one or two trees needed depending on variety), Cherry (one or two trees needed depending on species and variety), Quince (only one tree needed, but two will increase fruit production), Dessert Plum (one or two trees needed depending on variety)
Featuring: Silver Buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea) as the nitrogen fixing shrub, native with edible berries
Supporting cast:
- Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) as native, edible, medicinal, insectary, and mulch maker
- Garden Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) as edible and soil improver
- Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) as edible, insectary, and pest confuser
- Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) as edible, medicinal, insectary, and pest confuser
- Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare) as edible, medicinal, insectary, and pest confuser
- Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare ‘purpureum’) as edible, medicinal, insectary, pest confuser, and beneficial insect attractant
- Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) as edible, mulch maker, and soil improver
- Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) as native, edible, medicinal, mulch maker, and insectary
- Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) as edible, and beneficial insect attractant
- Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) as native, edible, medicinal, insectary, soil improver, and ground cover
- Lovage (Levisticum officinale) as edible, insectary, soil improver, and beneficial insect attractant
The Resilient Investment
Starring: Walnut (Juglans regia) as the center tree, native to the U.S. with edible nuts (two trees needed)
Optional star choice: Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa, two trees needed, edible nuts), Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum, one tree needed, edible sap)
Featuring: Silver Buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea) as the nitrogen fixing shrub, native with edible berries
Supporting cast:
- Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) as native, edible, medicinal, insectary, and mulch maker
- Calendula (Calendula officinalis) as edible, medicinal, and insectary
- Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) as edible, insectary, and pest confuser
- Lovage (Levisticum officinale) as edible, insectary, soil improver, and beneficial insect attractant
- Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) as native, edible, medicinal, and insectary
- Yarrow (Achille millefolium) as native, medicinal, edible, insectary, soil improver, and beneficial insect attractant
- Russian Comfrey, Bocking 14 (Symphytum Uplandica) as medicinal, mulch maker, insectary, and soil improver
- New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) as native, medicinal, nitrogen-fixer, mulch maker, insectary, and soil improver
- Hazelnut (Corylus americana) as native, edible, mulch maker, and wildlife food
- Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) as native, edible, medicinal, mulch maker, and wildlife food
- Clove Currant (Ribes odoratum ‘Crandall’) as native, edible, insectary, mulch maker, wildlife food, soil improver, and provider of very fragrant blooms
A Little on Guilds
Remember, with all tree guilds, the plant communities will need to change as the tree grows and begins to shade the ground beneath it. When that time comes, reach out to us, and we can help with suggestions.
Some seeds will need cold moist stratification in order to germinate and can be planted in the fall. At tree planting time, remove grass all the way to the drip-line of the mature size of the tree. Mulch the entire area until plants can fill it in. Never leave bare soil. Since grass roots occupy the same root zone of fruit trees and thus compete for water and nutrients, try to keep grass away from the tree roots. Sufficient mulch and guild planting will keep the grass at bay. You can mulch with wood chips, leaves, straw, and landscaping “waste.”
Using natural sources of fertilizer such as food scraps tucked under the mulch, compost, etc., in addition to the nitrogen-fixing and soil-improving plants in the guilds, should help you avoid the need for fertilizer. The plant communities should also help attract pollinating insects and insects and birds that control herbivorous (pest) insects. Strongly fragrant plants help deter pests as well. Try not to spray at the first sight of pests. Pests reproduce more quickly than their predators, so give the predators time to get there. If you kill their food, they’ll never come, and you’ll have to keep doing the job yourself. Include a bird bath to provide water for your pest-killing insect and bird friends.
Are you ready? Let’s do this!
