How Does Companion Planting Work?

Definition: Companion planting is the gardening or landscaping practice of planting one plant in proximity to another, due to the benefits it bestows on this "companion plant." Organic gardeners, for instance, often juxtapose plants because the one will have insect-repelling qualities that benefit the other, obviating the need to use chemical pesticides. One plant can even serve as a "living mulch" for another. Sometimes, the benefits are shared in companion planting, making for a symbiotic relationship.