This is an interesting thread on fruit tree guilds; see especially the
input from: Joop Corbin - swomp, which is exceptional; I'll quote it here:
"Two things you really want in a rose guild (apples belong, like most
fruit trees, to the rosacea family):
- Umbelliferae, predators like hover flies live in and around them,
variaties that are even more useful for us are things like valerianis
officianalis, parsnip, carrots and lots of others...
- compositea, The adults from certain insects eat this, their larvea are
great predators on insects that feed on fruit.
i would also go for nastertium as a ground cover below the tree. from
stem to drip line comfrey and nastertium. around that, we've got patches
with self seeding herbs, carrots and onionny things between berry
bushes, and not further than 4-5 metres from the tree, valerianis
officianale.
and of course nitrogen fixers and dynamic accumulators, the latter being
more important than the first where we are."
[permaculture] fruit tree guilds (Permaculture Forums: permaculture),
Lawrence F. London, Jr., 06/15/2010