what not to plant with catnip

Companions and Enemies: What Not to Plant With Catnip

Catnip is a versatile herb that deters garden pests, attracts pollinators, and brings joy to felines. However, certain plants make poor companions for catnip while others thrive alongside it. Consider companion planting guidelines when integrating catnip into your garden plans.

As a member of the mint family, catnip can be quite invasive and spread rapidly when planted in the ground It aggressively roots and sends out rhizomes that take over garden beds. Therefore, it’s best not to plant catnip beside small, delicate plants that could get overwhelmed Catnip’s rampant growth also inhibits the growth of plants seeded close by so avoid direct sowing near catnip.

Additionally, catnip should not be planted near other mint family members like oregano, thyme, rosemary, lavender and true mints. Catnip will compete with these herbs for space, soil nutrients, and water. The flavors of mints may also get muddled when planted in close proximity over time.

Fennel and dill are not ideal catnip partners either. All three herbs attract beneficial insects but may end up drawing more pests to each other. They also could cross-pollinate, resulting in odd flavored seeds.

Common sage is another herb to avoid planting beside catnip. Though aromatic like catnip, sage contains oils that will inhibit the growth of nearby plants. Plant sage in its own designated garden space.

While certain herbs don’t mix well with catnip, many vegetables thrive when catnip is interplanted nearby. Catnip’s pungent oils naturally help deter common vegetable garden pests like aphids, beetles, moths, ants, and mice.

Some of the best vegetables to plant with catnip include:

• Pumpkins – Catnip repels squash bugs.

• Squash – Deters cucumber beetles.

• Broccoli – Repels aphids and loopers.

• Cauliflower – Drives away cabbage worms.

• Potatoes – Repels beetles and aphids.

Catnip is also an excellent companion for eggplants, brassicas like kale and collard greens, beans, peas, and lettuces. Its oils mask the scent of these veggies to pests.

Additionally, catnip attracts predatory insects that prey on common garden pests. So planting catnip throughout the garden or as borders draws beneficial bugs in while driving intruders away. Productivity increases when you fill spaces between vegetables with catnip as living mulch.

Along with veggies, catnip serves as a great repellent and beneficial insect attractor for fruit trees, bushes, and vines. Consider underplanting catnip around the base of fruiting plants. It will help protect against boring insects, aphids, beetles, and rodents.

A few flowering annuals and perennials also blend well with catnip. Its blossoms attract pollinators which then visit neighboring flowers. Marigolds, zinnias, petunias, salvia, and cosmos pair nicely with catnip. Just make sure to give these smaller plants ample room away from catnip’s spreading roots.

Catnip’s bushy form provides shade to lower growing flowers if you remove spent catnip blooms regularly to encourage new growth. This prevents leggy, open stems from developing.

Though catnip deters most pests, the one critter it invites is cats. If you want to keep kitties from rolling around in nearby vegetable and flower beds, plant catnip on the garden’s outskirts. Or grow catnip in pots on a patio or deck for feline enjoyment away from delicate plants.

Overall, smart companion planting allows gardeners to harness catnip’s protective powers where they are most useful. Keep catnip contained and situate it near plants that benefit from its pest-repelling oils. Avoid aggressive mint family members that may compete with catnip for resources. With some thoughtful plant pairings, a flourishing garden can thrive with cats and catnip!