Fruit Tree Guild

Center on a semi-dwarf apple, pear, or stone fruit tree. Create concentric rings around the tree with comfrey at the drip line, a ring of perennial alliums, an herb layer with thyme and oregano, and strawberries as ground cover. Add flowers for beneficial insects.

Place the central tree with enough space for its mature size (typically 12-15 feet diameter for semi-dwarf). Plant comfrey every 3 feet around the drip line. Space alliums 6-8 inches apart in clumps. Create patches of herbs and berries between these plantings.

Begin with the tree and comfrey at drip line. In the first year, add the alliums and herbs. By year two, add the strawberry ground cover. Expect full production by years 3-5 depending on the tree type.

Chop and drop comfrey 3-4 times per season to provide mulch and fertilizer for the tree. Add woodchips annually outside the drip line. Prune the tree in late winter. Divide spreading plants like alliums and strawberries every 2-3 years.

A mature guild based around one semi-dwarf tree can yield 50-150 lbs of fruit, 2-3 lbs of culinary herbs, 5-10 lbs of strawberries, and alliums for kitchen use throughout the season.

This classic fruit tree guild provides yields at multiple levels while creating a largely self-maintaining system. Particularly good for apples, pears, and stone fruits in the Kentucky climate.

Center on a dwarf or columnar fruit tree that will stay under 10 feet tall. Plant in a square bed raised 12-18 inches with comfrey at corners only, heavy focus on berry bushes and perennial vegetables like asparagus or rhubarb in the same bed.

Use a 6'x6' or 8'x8' raised bed with the tree in the center. Place comfrey only at the corners. Add 1-2 berry bushes (like gooseberry which tolerates shade) within the bed. Fill remaining space with culinary herbs and flowers.

Install tree, comfrey and woody plants first. Add herbs and flowers in the first season. Expect berries to produce by year 2, tree by years 2-3.

Regular pruning is essential to keep the tree small and productive. Prune twice yearly - summer pruning for size control and winter pruning for fruit production. Water deeply once weekly during dry periods.

A mature mini-guild can produce 15-30 lbs of tree fruit, 2-4 lbs of berries, and regular herb harvests from a very small space.

This intensive system requires more initial construction (raised bed) and maintenance but delivers high yields from small spaces. Works well with dwarf cherries, apples on M27 rootstock, or genetic dwarf peaches.