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Landscape Design

planting beneath established tree

17 years ago

Hey guys--

I have a nice established Live Oak in our "park way" here in historic Oak Cliff in Dallas. (The area between your sidewalk and the street.) I am losing the St. Augustine beneath it and really just want to take out the grass and plant a mix of perennials, ground cover, etc. for a pretty bed that is low maintenance. It is approx. 12-14 feet long by like 4 feet. A big rectangle ovviously. A differnt tree died my other parkway area on the opposite side of the sidewalk and I planted no new tree, but put in roses, perennials and a stepping stone path for people to get across it who park on the street.It seems like a nice balance to do SOMETHING with my tree bed with dying grass. Problem is I know disturbing the root zone can be dangerous to the tree. Anyone have ideas on how to gently amend the soil and do some light planting without harming my Live Oak. It is about 10 years old.

Thanks!

Liz

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Comments (5)

Embothrium
17 years ago
Plant in existing soil, without amendments and mulch afterward. Choose plants adapted to existing soil and exposure.
lizp
Original Author
17 years ago
Bboy
Thanks. The soil is horrible clay soil that has never had any attention. Do you think it would hurt to till it a little by hand and work in a few inches of composted cotton burrs etc? I do that will all my new beds.
Thanks!!Liz
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nandina
17 years ago
lizp,
Cotton burr compost is little known outside of Texas although nurseries leaning toward organic gardening are beginning to carry the organic variety. It is a marvelous product for both heavy clay soils and pure sand. Clay soils should be amended from the surface, not tilled. Plus, you do not want to disturb the oak roots in any manner. However, cotton burr compost is fairly fine grained and light, so that it tends to wash out and needs a mulch to hold it in place. So, you will have to do a balancing act...slowly adding compost and light mulches over the tree roots...bit by bit. This gives the feeder roots time to work to the surface. Start with young plants, keep to a watering schedule. Here in the coastal south we would probably plant a drift of low growing azaleas around the tree enmass and leave the fallen oak leaves among them to compost and encourage the beneficial fungi necessary for healthy oak growth.
bahia
17 years ago
Is it all full shade in this area, or is it a combination of sun and shade? I'd think that things like Pachysandra or Ophiopogon would be the best bet in full shade areas, as both will take deep shade and tree root competition. I'd agree that just amending at actual planting holes and then mulching throughout may be the easiest way to go. You might also place a soaker hose over the bed to help gently irrigate to get faster growth, as I seem to recall Dallas can have long periods without rain?
lizp
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks Bahia and Nandina
When I remember how to post photos I will do so on these forums in the future as it helps tell the story so much better
The light there would be part to some full sun as the sun is hitting 3-4 pm-a hellishly hot time for us here in Dallas. I have seen pachysandra and admired it. OR a vinca perhaps. I just don't want to be stupid and kill this live oak when I could really garden elsewhere and make my case to my husband that it is best to till up the front yard to make more beds after all :)
Thanks guys.

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