The Guilds in FoamLab's Garden in Amsterdam

The centrlal elements in our garden are three low trees: an Apple tree, a Mulberry and an Elderberry. Those three trees do tolerate each other very well. The idea is to make a guild or community around each tree and over time these guilds can slowly blend into each other. Other possible trees are for instance: pear, cherry, plum…

Companion plants for the apple tree:

• Chives - Bieslook - Allium Schoenoprasum
• Marigold - Africaantjes of Goudsbloem - Tagetes (L.)
• Garlic (aswell against caterpillars)
• Onion - Ui - Allium
• Dill -dille: host predatory wasps and tastes great with apples raw or cooked)
• Horserasdish - Mierikswortel - Armoracia rusticana
• Lemonbalm - Citroenmelisse - Melissa officinalis (L.) -
• Mustard – Mosterd - Sinapis –
• Nasturium – Oostindische kers - Tropaeolum; ( a climber) determineert codling moth [wollige plantenluis]
• Spinach - Spinazie - Spinacia oleracea
• Tansy -Boerenwormkruid - Tanacetum vulgaire
• Yarrow - Duizendblad - Achillea (L.); aswell good for living mulch
• Wallflowers - Muurbloem - Erysimum (L.)
• Daffodils -Narcis - Narcissus (L.)
• Rue - Wijnruit - Ruta graveolens (L.)-

[★ it doesn’t go with potatoe]

An apple tree plant community might include daffodils, irises, or other early-flowering bulbs. While blooming under the fruit tree, they provide beauty for us and attract pollinators to the tree. Dill and onions planted under the drip line of the apple tree repel pests that are otherwise attracted to the tree. Beans, peas, or purple clovers fix soil nitrogen, improving the quality of the soil in which the tree is growing. Comfrey and borage are herbs with many human uses. In addition, they grow quickly and can be cut back and used as mulch around the tree.

Its companion plants:

• Chives - Bieslook - Allium Schoenoprasum
• Marigold - Africaantjes of Goudsbloem - Tagetes (L.)
• Garlic- Knoflook
• Grapevine - Druif
• Lemonbalm - Citroenmelisse - Melissa officinalis (L.) -
• Nasturium – Oostindische kers - Tropaeolum
• Mustard - Mosterd -Sinapis nigra
• Spinach - Spinazie - Spinacia oleracea
• Silverbeet - snijbiet
• Tansy - Boerenwormkruid - Tanacetum vulgaire -
• Yarrow - Duizendblad - Achillea (L.)
• Comfrey - Smeerwortel - Symphytum spp
• Clover - Klaver
• Cat-mints - Kattekruid - Nepeta: (groundover - Flora)

A special mixture for the groundcovering for under fruittrees is known in Germany under the name “Wolff Mischung”. The mixture consists many nutrients giving plants, gives protector for birds, attract bees and misleads verminous (ongedierte). composition: 7,5% Alexandrijnse Klaver - Egyptian Clover - Trifolium alexandrinum (L.) , 25% Esparcette - Holly Clover - Onobrychis viciifolia , 7,5% Inkarnaatklaver - Italian Clover - Trifolium incarnatum (L.) 5% Perzische Klaver - Reversed Clover - Trifolium resupinatum (L.) 2,5% Rode Klaver - Red Clover - Trifolium pratense (L.) 10% Lucerne Klaver – Alfalfa - Medicago sativa (L.) 25% Wikken – Vetches - Vicia (L.) 10% Bijenmengsel - beemixture 7,5% Kruidenmengsel – herbmixture

Plant near a compost heap as it assists in breakdown soil. Elderberry is a natural Antiseptic, the leaves encourage compost fermentation and makes excellent topsoil. The flowers are very attractive to insects and the fruit is very attractive to birds – pigeons hang upside down in autumn to pick the berrys. It’s a general insecticide, the flowers and berries make lovely wine, pancakes, juices etc.