underplanted, underappreciated landscape trees
turbo_tpl
13 years ago
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krycek1984
13 years agoRelated Discussions
Underplanting Crape Myrtle
Comments (2)I have grown gingers under mine for years and they have suffered no adverse effects. I also grow vines up a couple. Its really pretty with the vine's flowers hanging down from the canopy. One of the myrtles flowers white while the vine flowers sky blue. They look great together :o) Don't use a really agressive vine like the cypress vine. With that in mind if looking for a smallish plant you may want to think of shallow rooted plants like smaller gingers, cast iron plant, ferns and so forth. Mike...See MoreUnderplanting- 2 Tree mulch bed
Comments (31)Your whole problem started out because those were Norway maples. Norway maples are notoriously almost impossible to grow things under, including grass. I've researched it, they have an aggressive root system that basically robs anything growing under them of any chance of survival. Not sure why they had to come down, but they are also notorious for rotting out inside and falling on things. If they ground down the trunk, maybe you can replant. If you want a tree, try something like a Japanese maple or Autumn Blaze red maple. Or a pretty flowering tree like a dogwood or crab apple, That might bring some shade back to that spot. Or if you have an alternate spot in the backyard, transplant. Hopefully some will survive. Don't give up hope....See MoreKousa Dogwood: what to underplant?
Comments (20)I have a 3 ft ring of mulch around the baby (6ft tall) dogwood now, it's been there since planting the tree. It's in the middle of my lawn and the brown circle of mulch just looks so empty relative to the green lawn. My mature flowering dogwood has lawn up to the trunk (a look I love). Just wanted to liven up the browness under the little guy. I appreciate all the suggestions! I'm leaning towards dwarf heuchera or mini hostas at the edge of the mulch circle. As he grows I'll fill in with grass....See MoreHow would you landscape this natural under-tree area?
Comments (20)Despite how pretty the flowering plants/shrubs look in a mock up, there is no guarantee they will thrive - or even survive - under these conditions!! That's one of the major drawbacks of this sort of cursory design input. Unless one can examine firsthand the degree of rootiness and soil moisture (or rather, lack of it), suggestions for large growing and water hungry shrubs and perennials are a bit of a joke. The sweetgums (Liquidambar) in particular are well known for the production of a lot of surface roots that makes planting anything of any size under their canopy extremely problematic. And both they and the pines are water hogs and will pull all available moisture out of the soil. This is a design issue I encounter on a daily basis. I live in an area with a lot of larger trees and with many lots that have these pockets of woodlands and know from more than 25 years of experience that groundcovers suited for dry shade conditions are the best choice. They are small enough so that one is able to dig a sufficiently sized planting hole though the tree roots and once established, are able to survive with that heavy root competition. Save the larger flowering shrubs - camellias, azaleas, hydrangeas, etc. - for the areas well away from the trees where they can receive the root-free, adequately fertile soil conditions and soil moisture they need to thrive....See Moredenninmi
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