Companion plants for apple tree

[Normans Mum]

Hi all
I have recently moved to a new plot and it has an apple tree on it. 🍎🍏 I am looking to underplant with some companion plants that are nice to look at and will help keep my tree healthy. What have any of you done and can you share pics or tips with me please ?

[Small pumpkin]

According to my companion planting book.
Good company: chives, foxglove, wallflower, nasturtiums, garlic, onions.
And apparently horsetail equisetum . Personally I wouldn't encourage that to grow anywhere near your plot.
Bad company: grass and potatoes

[Nicos]

I plant lots of daffodils near my fruit trees as the bees will already be in the locality when they come into flower.
Well...that's the theory!
I go for pollination as well as pest control.....

[Normans Mum]

Thank you both for your suggestions. I was thinking chives and daffs... just wondered if there were any more unusual things.
Small pumpkin-- horsetail is something I hope not to find ! ��

[chrisdb]

I underplant mine with wild strawberries and shade tolerant herbs like pennyroyal. I think almost any broadleaved plant will be better than grass.

[Normans Mum]

Chrisdb, i have planted daffs and chives. I also found some purple crocus nearby. Bonus !

[Guest]

Mine are under planted with spring bulbs so they don't interfere to much with each other.
Apples are part of the rose family and garlic is great for black spot and other things, so any alliums alongside apples is likely to be a good thing.
Also roses - little diddy ones or a climber or rambler going through the tree depending on tree size
There are some arguments for allowing grass to grow underneath but it is more for large rootstocks.
Apparently traditional Norfolk orchards used to have currants and goosegogs growing amongst the trees but I can't find anyone who can tell me why

[nickdub]

Apparently traditional Norfolk orchards used to have currants and goosegogs growing amongst the trees but I can't find anyone who can tell me why

One reason was that in the old days soft fruit was put in to fill the gaps between the trees when they were first planted. Obviously a standard tree needs a lot of room but not when it is first put in. The crops from the soft fruit help to pay some bills while the farmer was waiting for the top fruit to get big enough to crop properly. Ultimately after 10 years or so when the trees started to reach their full size, the bushes were pulled our.

I think Raymond Bush mentions the practice in one of his books on fruit growing.

[muck lover]

I have three new apple trees so for the first couple of years I have just mulched underneath with grass clippings and leaves. Now I am starting grape hyacinths and limnanthes. Both little thugs but cheery and good for bugs.