Best plants to grow near fruit trees to confuse insect pests

I’m trying to decide what to plant around my peach, pear, plum, and apple trees to discourage insects. I’ve got some garlic chives that I need to move, so I will try them. I have some mint, but it gets so thick that I think it might compete too much. What other plants might help?

Ken W Wilson wrote:I’m trying to decide what to plant around my peach, pear, plum, and apple trees to discourage insects. I’ve got some garlic chives that I need to move, so I will try them. I have some mint, but it gets so thick that I think it might compete too much. What other plants might help?

I think you're on the right track.  Garlic chives grow really well for me, so I use them quite a bit.  Any plants with strong smells are the ones I use, along with daffodils to help with burrowers.  Mint does spread like crazy but I haven't notice adverse effects to the trees I have put it around.  As well as plants to deter insects, I try to plant things to draw the good guys as well.  I just started using dill so it's too soon for me to tell if it is working, but I tend to err on the side of the more diversity, the better.  I want to deter some things and draw others, so I just plant as many different things as possible and let nature do Her thing.  I focus on perennials now to let the mini-ecosystems develop, but still use annuals.  Self-seeders get priority there.

Plants that attract beneficial insects which are predators to the pests would be a good choice.  Plants that have umbel flower clusters are often the ones that attract these beneficial insects.  Here is a link with a good list of the plants that you are looking for.  Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects