What can I plant under tall hemlock that's part shade and dry?
Mj
11 years ago
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years agoMj
11 years agoRelated Discussions
How to landscape under old hemlocks
Comments (11)Sorry for the late response. I thought I would get an email if someone responded to my thread, but I guess I don't! Thanks for your responses. Yes, the hemlocks are ours (unfortunately, until recently I thought they were on public land because they are behind the fence). I would love to remove them (although my husband thinks the screening is important there). Unfortunately, that would be prohibitively expensive (there are 17 total - even with a quantity discount it would still be around 10K, I would guess). We already had a large pine tree removed this year, and I don't think I can coax my husband into spending any more money on tree work... So for now, I have to live with them. The area only gets late afternoon dappled sun, because there is also a mature cherry tree in the yard that's overshadowing everything. I have thought of rhododendrons and azaleas. Not sure how they would do. The previous owners had some small azaleas planted back there, which don't look like they are doing too well. Otherwise, all that's growing in this area is vinca. By ugly view I mean the bare fence. I need something to cover it and make a backdrop for the rest of the garden that I am planning... Thank you for any suggestions you might have (short of getting rid of the trees, which I know would be preferable given their condition and with regard to my landscaping plans)!...See MoreWhat will grow under tall hemlocks ?
Comments (6)Bareness under hemlocks is typical, they are prone to internal decay and deflect precipitation away from their bases with their foliage. If there are similar plantings on similar sites nearby look at those to see what, if anything is succeeding beneath the trees. Note in particular how large and old the hemlocks elsewhere are, with conifers generally the taller and more elevated they are the more potential their is for other kinds of plants to sneak in around them....See MoreWhich geraniums will tolerate dry part shade conditions?
Comments (6)The variety mentioned is the Cranesbill...the perennial geranium...not the annual "Pelargonium" that we use in containers and our beds. It is classed as a shrub....which likes SUN. You putting it into a non-sun preferred home is not being kind to it. There are a lot of things we cant do in our lives...and putting Cranesbill into shade is one of them if we expect the plant to perform how it should. Many plants can do well under the shade of the apple tree..among others. But a plant that prefers sun...6 hours...8 hours...is what the Cranesbill expects. There are many new varieties of Cransebill --otherwise called the "hardy" geranium. All of them, to my knowledge prefer sun....lots of sun. Trees generally are water-sucking beasts....some more than others. The maple is one of the worst offenders. Birch is another. When you plant under them you should expect to have to water the area under them so that any plants there are given their due. How about the other geranium...the pelargonium. They love 8 hours of sun. Give THEM less and they wont flower well. Besides, they too, like the trees, like lots of water....See MoreShady dry part of backyard under pines
Comments (9)rocks do well in the shade, but they are tough to get the pine needles out of, especially as each needle has a dab of glue (sap) at the base. honestly, i'd remove the pines, or most of the pines. you could take out every other one and the rest would be healthier. you could take out the right or the left and leave a more attractive clump. from all windows of your house, and from various places in the yard, identify the pines that arent pulling their weight... not giving privacy where needed, not looking good, etc. we used to live in NH and i begged my husband to get rid of the towering pines... all they did was ruin decks and drop sap on our children's shared car. after we moved the buyers removed them all and my husband had the AUDACITY to say 'wow their yard looks good' when we drove by one day. i wanted to kill him. anyway, don't be held hostage to trees that are a nuisance. thin or clump or replace. or just mulch with mulch and don'[t mind that its covered with pine needles. but a rock garden underneath them will just be an area of rocks with pine needles glued to them. srsly....See MoreMarie Tulin
11 years agosquirejohn zone4 VT
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