Plant Companions: Mint Around Your Plum Tree

Credit: Terry Guscott

Growing mint near plum trees keeps ants at bay, allowing ladybugs to move in and gobble up aphids

Companion planting is the art of pairing plants in the garden to enhance their performance. Planting mint (Mentha spp.) around plum trees is a wonderful example. Plum trees are commonly overwhelmed with aphids, a common garden pest. The sticky sweet secretion produced by aphids attracts ants, which help keep the aphids safe from a natural predator, ladybugs. This is where mint comes in: planting the fragrant plants around the base of the tree repels ants, and the ladybugs can come in and take care of the aphids. Plum trees often need a bit of help with pollination, and here mint is also helpful. It is a late spring bloomer that attracts beneficial pollinating insects to the tree when it is in bloom. Be warned, however – mint is very invasive. Plant it where you don’t mind it taking over, or grow it in pots placed under the tree or in the mowing circle if plum tree is in lawn.