Garden Vegetable Garden Ideas 12 Dill Companion Plants That Repel Pests, Provide Shade, and Help the Herb Thrive Planting these friendly companions with dill can benefit your crop by repelling pests, providing shade, and attracting friendly insects. By Felicia Feaster Felicia Feaster Felicia Feaster has worked for the past 20-plus years as a lifestyle journalist. She specializes in writing about interior design, gardening, trends, culture, travel, and wellness. Editorial Guidelines Published on June 19, 2024 Close Photo: Devid / Getty Images Garden enthusiasts agree that dill is a classic herb to grow, especially when paired with companion plants that can help it thrive. The right companion plant for dill is one that shares essential characteristics with the herb but also offers unique benefits of its own that will help ward off pests, retain soil moisture, and offer an array of other growing advantages. We asked plant experts for their picks for the most beneficial dill companion plants to help your crop perform its best. Isabel Branstrom, product development manager for vegetables at PanAmerican Seed, where she helps to introduce new vegetable varieties to the market Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app 10 Fast-Growing Herbs That Will Be Ready to Use in No Time 01 of 12 Asparagus Diana Taliun / Getty Images Dill attracts beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings that prey on asparagus beetles. Planting dill near asparagus can naturally reduce pest populations, leading to healthier growth, says Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app. Zones: 3 to 8Mature size: 4 to 5 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil; water weekly, plus more during the summer heat Find Your Gardening Zone 02 of 12 Basil ranmaru_ / Getty Images Both dill and its herb companion plant, basil, benefit from each other by improving growth and flavor. Dill can also help repel aphids, notes Spoonemore. Zones: 4 to 12Mature size: 1 to 2 feet tall and wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil; light and consistent watering How to Grow and Care for Basil Plants—Indoors and Outside 03 of 12 Broccoli Stephen Barnes / Getty Images Dill attracts insects that prey on pests affecting broccoli, such as aphids and cabbage worms, says Spoonemore. Zones: 3 to 10Mature size: 8 to 12 inches tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil; consistent, moderate watering 8 Best Broccoli Companion Plants for a Healthier Crop 04 of 12 Brussels Sprouts littlekiss photography / Getty Images Dill attracts insects that help control pests on Brussels sprouts, like aphids and cabbage loopers, notes Spoonemore. Zones: 3 to 9Mature size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil; consistent watering How to Grow Brussels Sprouts at Home—Plus the Secret to Ensuring a Healthy Crop Each Year 05 of 12 Chives fotolinchen / Getty Images "Dill and chives both thrive before things get too hot," says Isabel Branstrom, product development manager for vegetables at PanAmerican Seed. "When they do go to flower, though, they both provide great floral resources for pollinators. Dill is a host plant for swallowtail butterflies, so keep an eye out for the caterpillars." Zones: 3 to 9Mature size: 12 to 18 inches high x 12 to 16 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil rich in organic matter; water as needed all season to keep soil evenly moist Keep your eye out for the first sign of wilt. Wilting is a sure sign that your chives need water. 06 of 12 Corn Westend61 / Getty Images Dill attracts beneficial insects that prey on corn pests, such as aphids and earworms, says Spoonemore. Spoonemore recommends fertilizing corn every four weeks with an all-purpose fertilizer. Zones: 4 to 8Mature size: 5 to 6 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; fertile, well-drained soil; water weekly and more often in hot weather 07 of 12 Cucumbers Sorin Banica / 500px / Getty Images "Dill and cucumbers are two peas in a pod," says Branstrom. Because they are often combined to make pickles, planting them close together can provide a convenient harvest. In addition, says Spoonemore, dill attracts pollinators that can help increase cucumber yields and predatory insects that control pests. "Interplanting dill with cucumbers helps ensure better pollination and natural pest management,” she says. Zones: 4 to 12Mature size: 36 to 60 inches tall (with a trellis) x 36 to 60 inches wide.Care requirements: Full sun; rich, well-drained, evenly moist soil; water deeply once a week How to Plant and Care for Cucumbers—and Ensure a Bountiful Harvest All Summer Long 08 of 12 Kale Ernesto r. Ageitos / Getty Images Kale is a cool-season vegetable that times well with dill, says Branstrom. Both begin to bolt (produce flowers and seeds) when temperatures get too hot in the summertime, and they both do well as spring and fall plantings. Another bonus of their companionship is that flowering dill can attract predatory insects that will keep pests from attacking your kale, says Branstrom. Zones: 7 to 10Mature size: 12 to 15 inches tall x 12 to 15 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-drained, loamy soil fortified with organic matter; water deeply but infrequently 09 of 12 Lettuce joannatkaczuk / Getty Images Lettuce is an excellent leafy companion for dill, says Branstrom. Because lettuce is shorter than dill, it can help shade dill roots and keep soil from drying out too quickly. This is especially helpful when gardening in containers or raised beds. Zones: 4 to 9Mature size: 8 to 10 inches high x 8 to 12 inches wide.Care requirements: Full sun to light shade; well-drained soil; water deeply at least once a week and more frequently during drought Lettuce is generally disease and pest-free, but you should still be vigilant, notes Branstrom. Watch for lettuce rot, which first attacks the lower leaves in contact with the soil and then spreads throughout the plant. How to Harvest Dill for Flavor-Packed Meals All Season Long 10 of 12 Marigolds Simon McGill / Getty Images Marigolds are excellent companion plants for dill because they have natural pest-repellent properties, particularly against nematodes and aphids, notes Spoonemore. They also attract beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, which will help control pests in your garden. "Marigolds are relatively low-maintenance and can tolerate a range of soil conditions," says Spoonemore. Zones: 2 to 11Mature size: 6 inches to 4 feet tall x 6 inches to 2 feet wide (varies by species)Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil; regular, consistent watering How to Plant and Care for Marigolds, Splashy Bedding Plants That You Can Grow in Almost Every Hardiness Zone 11 of 12 Onion YuriyS / Getty Images Dill attracts insects that are beneficial to onions, such as parasitic wasps and ladybugs, says Spoonemore. Planting dill alongside onions can create a natural pest control barrier, leading to healthier crops. Zones: 3 to 9Mature size: 12 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil; provide consistent moisture and stop watering when tops fall over, says Spoonemore Your Guide to Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Onions 12 of 12 Oregano 2ndLookGraphics / Getty Images Oregano is a great companion for dill, says Spoonemore, because it can help repel pests such as aphids, spider mites, and cabbage loopers. It also attracts beneficial insects like bees and butterflies, aiding in pollination. Oregano is drought-tolerant once established and thrives in slightly dry conditions, says Spoonemore. Zones: 5 to 10Mature size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil; water weekly How to Grow Oregano in Your Indoor or Outdoor Herb Garden Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit