Companion planting is a broad - graze matter that might be base on science for some suggest conjugation but is more likely to be anecdotal or assume .
Many growers practice the term " companion planting " so loosely that it relates merely to attractive combination , but companion planting usually refers to plants that , when planted in unaired proximity , ameliorate each other ’s wellness by dissuading pests , attracting pollinators or allow nutrients . At the least , companion planting should geminate plants that want the same growing conditions .
In the case of both hardy and garden geraniums , piffling evidence propose that any finicky pairing benefits either the geranium or the selected companion works , with a few exclusion . yet , some recommended combinations make signified from a growing linear perspective and might also make an attractive garden seam .
About Geraniums: Hardy or Annual
Geraniums come in two principal flavors : the annual geranium , also called " zonary geranium " or " garden geranium " ( Pelargoniumspp . ) sold in most nursery , and the true geranium ( Geraniumspp . ) , refer to as " stout geranium " or crane’s bill .
Both the Geranium and the Pelargonium genera belong to the Geraniaceae folk , but species in the Pelargonium genus are hardy only in USDA zones 9 to 12 , while many in the Geranium genus get in zones as cold as hardiness zone 3 .
Garden Geraniums
one-year geraniums are those typically found in nurseries during the growing season . They are stars in any garden for their color , low maintenance and versatility . geranium are popular for container gardening , and gardeners commonlygrow geraniumsin hang baskets , bed of flowers and borders .
yearly geraniums typically have a bushy drug abuse , but hybridization has produced hundreds of varieties and cultivars that range wide in size , flush color and leaf configuration .
Hardy Geraniums (Cranesbill)
Hardy geraniums dependably return year after year , and most species can palm either full sun or partial nicety , although they produce more bloom in sun . The more than 300 species range of mountains from 6 to 24 inches in top . Some spread out out in a sprawling mode , while some support erect in big mounds .
Plant them in well - draining dirt , taking care not to hatch the cap with soil . As hardy perennial , they will return each year . They require little care and are drought tolerant once established .
Geranium Companion Planting
Geranium fellow traveller planting is usually recommend for pest control , but it can also be effective in attracting pollinator .
Companion Planting for Pest Control
Both amateur gardeners and extension experts widely consider geraniums to be effective as a form of pest control in vegetable gardens , while some uncouth geranium pairing have been found to do more harm than good . Here ’s a rundown :
Companion Planting for Pollinators
For fruit and vegetables to produce crops , they take pollinator . Effective familiar planting should integrate plants that draw crucial pollinators . plebeian pollinating insects include bee , moths , butterflies , beetles and some flies .
While zonal geraniums are not known for attracting bees — due to their complex peak social organization that makes it rugged for bee to get at nectar and pollen — onestudy performed at the University of Pennsylvaniaconcluded that several zonal geranium cultivars were effective at attracting bee , including Savannah Pink Sizzle , Savannah White Splash and Pacific Violet .
Unlike zonary geraniums , repeated geraniums are typically all effective at attract pollinators . embed these near your fruit trees and veggies to improve yields .
