Elizabeth, others who can explain this better may post, but meanwhile PLEASE read about what soil solarization does beside kill the grass. It will also destroy all the beneficials in your soil. Ditto re restraint using plastic. Newspaper/cardboard topped with mulch will most definitely do the job. HTH, Rosie

Silver Maples are one of the worst possible choices to plant in any situation. They are extremely fast growers and are structurally weak because of the fast growth. They frequently split in two or have one of their massive branches fall with little warning and the branch will frequently rip open the trunk exposing the tree to various diseases and insects. They are particularly dirty trees meaning the drop of those little spinning seed propellers are extremely numerous and sprout over a very wide stretch of time. I have found them sprouting years after they fell from the tree. The spinners collect in foot deep windrows and will burrow into the mulch but given moisture they can sprout with little or no soil. They can tear apart the gutters on a house and lift shingles. They can destroy driveways and walks not to mention the house foundations. Your pond wouldn't stand a chance if the tree sent its roots in that direction. There are worse trees but they are rarely used for landscaping. When we put in a small pond at the Co-operative Extension Gardens, it was at least 20 feet away from a mature Silver Maple. We had to cut roots that were 4 and 5 inches thick and the feeder roots formed a mat so dense we wound up replacing more than a cubic yard of soil. Some of the roots ran another 7 feet. It took 6 years to convince the University to let us get rid of it. Many of us who had battled the tree cheered when it was gone. That was two years ago and we are still finding seedlings sprouting. If it is at all possible, get rid of the Silver Maple and replace it with a better variety such as a Red Maple. Silver Maples are very popular with contractors who plant them to satisfy home buyers who like the idea of large trees quickly. It is a really bad choice that can come back to haunt you. Sandy

It certainly does look great Sherry! I agree, I don't like the idea of being told something is impossible, challenging perhaps but not impossible lol! You have proven that plants and gardeners can overcome less than ideal conditions. Your plants are not hanging on by a thread, they are thriving. Kudos to you! felisar (z5) Yes, the Geranium macrorrhizum, Epimedium and Asarum canadense are great performers under Maples. I grow them under an immense Acer saccharum (Sugar maple). I also grow Polygonatum (Solomon's Seal) under it. Great plant(s) known for being able to adapt to dry shade. Phlox stolonifera performs very well also. Vinca took a while to establish but now needs to be controlled just like the Ajuga. Many other plants grow there but with less success. I had Actaea rubra (native here) seed in and it is deliriously happy growing under the Maple.

I bought some plastic screens that slide under the shingles and snap onto the gutter at Lowes. I have a huge maple tree with lots of helicopter seeds. They work really well. A box of them was around $40. I see now they have improved upon these by adding a micro mesh to the backside, this would filter out even more debris.