Grow More, Spend Less: The Benefits of Companion Planting (Free Chart Inside!)

Companion planting is the best, most consistent thing I’ve done through all these years of gardening. It brings me such joy, and it always turns out pretty well.

If you are new to gardening, let me tell you that not everything will go the way you plan. There’s a huge learning curve, but to ease some of that worry, trying companion planting is crucial.

Gardening can get expensive fast. You think you’re just planting a few tomato plants, and suddenly, you’re knee-deep in receipts for fertilizer, ten different packs of tomato seed varieties, pest sprays, and fancy gardening tools you swear you needed.

What convinced me to try this wasn’t science (even though there’s a lot of it) but a breakdown of how I could save money. Here’s how companion gardening saved me from spending too much on my garden.

Companion planting is the grouping of plants that will benefit each other. The most commonly talked about method is the three sisters method. We did this last year in our expanded garden.

 1. Less Spending on Fertilizer

Okay, this one isn’t a big deal for us now because we have a lot more livestock that creates our fertilizer, but when I started in the city with my six chickens, I needed fertilizer.

When I planted nitrogen-fixing beans alongside my tomatoes (a classic companion plant duo), I got a natural fertilizer—FOR FREE. Beans pull nitrogen from the air and add it to the soil like little eco-superheroes.

Tip for You: Beans pair nicely with tomatoes, carrots, and squash. Plant them as a helper crop and watch your plants thrive without the whole soil supplement drama.

Check out this post to learn how to save money and grow your veggies from seeds.

2. Fewer Pesticides

I’m not a huge fan of spraying chemicals all over my veggies. But I still need them bug-free, right? When you plant Marigolds near vegetables like cucumbers or peppers, these sunny little flowers work overtime, keeping pests at bay.

Marigolds are super cheap, and they make my garden look like something out of a Cottagecore Pinterest board. I grab seeds at Dollar Tree for $0.25. You can also check your library for a seed library program.

Pro Hack: Nasturtiums are also excellent pest repellents and edible (hello, salad garnish). Plus, Pinterest-worthy close-up photos of flowers are always a win.

3. Companion Gardening = More Harvest

Sometimes, the right plant pairing doesn’t just survive—it thrives. By pairing plants like basil with tomatoes, I found that both grew better and faster. Basil not only helped boost the health of my tomatoes, but it also made them taste better. Yep, that’s a thing. What does this mean for your wallet? More food with less effort. Isn’t that the dream?

Pro Tip: Interplant herbs with vegetables. Dill loves cucumbers, oregano loves eggplant, and they’re always cheaper than separate pest-control products.

4. Saving on Seeds by Choosing Plants That Double-Duty

Here’s what no one wants to admit about gardening—you’re possibly (probably) buying too many seeds. But with companion gardening, some plants serve multiple purposes so that you can skip the extras. Case in point?

My radishes. Not only did the roots grow for those crisp, peppery salads, but the leaves helped shade the soil. It kept the garden cool during our blistering July afternoons, which meant less water use. Every little bit adds up.

Seed Swap Trick: For that nitrogen boost, opt for multitasking veggies like radishes, dill (hello, pest control, and kitchen seasoning), or beans.

5. Less Water Waste

When you have plants that naturally shield each other—like tall corn shading sprawling squash—you don’t constantly have to water to keep the soil damp. That’s the brilliance of companion planting; it helps create this mini ecosystem that makes your garden hands-off. It’s kind of like passive income but in veggie form. Goodbye, colossal water bill.

6. It Saves Space

One of the perks of companion planting is that it maximizes your garden space. You can pack more greenery into a smaller area by pairing plants that grow at different heights or have different root systems—like tall tomatoes with spreading basil or climbing beans with low-growing lettuce.

Less space means less need for expensive soil, fertilizers, or extra garden beds, but mainly less weeding! No one likes to spend hours and hours of the day weeding. Well, at least I don’t. We switched to the black tarp in the garden last year, and it was a learning curve. I also returned to work full-time outside the house during the summer, making the wedding more manageable.

I’ll be trying it again this year and keeping you all updated. My garden is below; this year, I’ll convince my husband we don’t need all those rocks to hold the tarp down!

Next to the tarp is where we did the three-sister method with the corn, and let me tell you, if you don’t keep up with weeding, your beans will be overtaken and not produce.

What I love most about companion gardening is it’s simple, cheap, and doable, even if you’re just starting out. I went from being a “buy every seed packet that looked pretty and fun” person to someone who grows food affordably and eats like a queen all summer.

The trick is pairing plants that play nice and letting nature do the heavy lifting. And if you’re anything like me, the money I saved on pesticides, fertilizer, and extra seeds went straight into my savings.

My Favorite Companion Planting Vegetable Chart

Now that I have hopefully convinced you that companion planting is a money saver and beneficial to your garden, I’ve created a free chart for you to reference when designing your garden. If you need help with designs, check out these free websites.

Print the chart for FREE here.

My Favorite Vegetable Garden Designs

Whenever I found a chart online, I had to try and scribble out the best plants to put in the garden. To save you time, I’ve shared five garden ideas you could try using the companion chart above.

1. Small Raised Bed Garden (4×8 ft)

• Best for: Beginners or small spaces
• Layout:
  • Tomatoes in the back with Basil & Marigolds
  • Carrots & Onions in the middle
  • Lettuce & Radishes in the front
  • Cucumbers growing vertically on a trellis

2. Square Foot Garden (4×4 ft)

• Best for: Maximizing a small area
• Layout:
  • Peppers in the back with Basil
  • Lettuce & Radishes in the center
  • Bush Beans on the side
  • Marigolds & Nasturtiums around the edges

3. Three Sisters Garden (Traditional Native American Layout)

• Best for: Large outdoor spaces
• Layout:
  • Corn in the center
  • Beans climbing up the corn stalks
  • Squash or Pumpkins at the base to provide ground cover

4. Herb & Vegetable Border Garden

• Best for: Edible landscaping or companion herb gardening
• Layout:
  • Tomatoes & Peppers with Basil & Marigolds in the center
  • Carrots & Onions along one edge
  • Rosemary & Thyme in a sunny spot
  • Mint in a container nearby to keep it from spreading

5. Pollinator-Friendly Garden

• Best for: Attracting bees & butterflies while growing veggies
• Layout:
  • Cucumbers & Squash on a trellis
  • Carrots, Lettuce, & Peppers in the main bed
  • Marigolds, Nasturtiums, & Dill around the edges
  • Lavender & Chamomile for pollinator attraction

Pin this blog to save for your next gardening season. Don’t forget to share your favorite money-saving gardening tips (especially companion planting hacks—I always need new ideas) in the comments!