Is this the right way to kill grass under a tree to plant groundcover?

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I want to kill the remaining grass growing under a maple
tree on the parkway next to the street, so I can plant a groundcover. Such
grass as there is is very patchy; about 50% bare dirt closer to the tree trunk,
more grass and less bare dirt as you proceed outward.

Tell me if there is any reason why I should NOT do it this
way, or if there is a better way. I don’t actually want to kill the tree
(though it’s tempting, the dense shade maple belongs to the village; if it died
maybe I could get them to plant something else).

I will spray the grass with Liquid edger, which (I think, it’s
in garage now) is grass specific (mostly because I already have a gallon, and
that way I don’t need to go out and buy Round-Up.)

I will spread several layers of newspaper on top (After it
dies? Or before? ) I will top that with bagged topsoil, to the depth of several
inches.

In about a month or so I will plant my groundcover. I have
another thread going on what to use; right now Epimediums or English ivy / Baltic
ivy top the list. Thanks!

Featured Answer

mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)

9 years ago

Having seen maples with 20 ft of soil added (an inch or two at a time) you can add dirt on top of maple roots.

The herbicide is overkill. The newspaper and whatever is put on top of the newspaper will kill the grass.

The recommended way to get something started under a maple is to plant it in a shallow cardboard box. The cardboard keeps the tree roots out, but only for a while.

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Comments (7)

laceyvail 6A, WV
9 years ago
You absolutely cannot pile soil on top of the root system of a maple. Aside from possibly killing the tree, in a years or two, if the tree survives, the fibrous root system will grow into the new soil.

Very little will survive in the root system of a mature maple. Ivy may, but ivy presents its own problems in terms of controlling it. I wouldn't grow it if you paid me. It's possible, but not likely, that some varieties of epimediums might survive under a maple, but most won't do well. For groundcovers under a maple (though I repeat, it's a very dubious project), I suggest Liriope spicata (not L. muscari) and Geranium maccrorrhizum, Big Root Geranium, THE plant for dry shade.

Do not pile on extra soil when you plant, just dig holes, stick the plants in and water for the first year. You may have some luck with it. If not, just lightly mulch the area, and plant in pots.
cecily
9 years ago
I would use newspaper and mulch, not topsoil. I agree that not much will grow under a maple: mine just has mulch with no groundcover. Good luck!
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
9 years ago
You've been given some very good advice!

Be SURE to read the label of your Liquid Edger before using. It contains the same active ingredient as RoundUp, by the way.

If it has been stored through several seasons in an unheated/uncooled garage, be prepared for a loss of efficacy. Spray a light application to the grass without soaking the soil and wait until you see signs of yellowing before covering with newspaper and mulch.

You must not add the top soil or the root system will be compromised. In truth, the very best thing you can do for the tree is to cover the soil surface with about three inches of mulch and leave it at that. You'll be surprised at how attractive it will be.

If you do decide to attempt planting into those roots, be very conservative. Cutting into large portions of the root system will be very destructive, just like adding several inches of soil.
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Oh, this is interesting. I had always assumed I could not add dirt over a
tree’s roots. But on my other thread

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/what-to-plant-under-maple-tree-shade-english-ivy-other-ideas-dsvw-vd~2984758[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/what-to-plant-under-maple-tree-shade-english-ivy-other-ideas-dsvw-vd~2984758)

people told me it was safe for a maple, though not for other trees like oaks.
They also linked to other threads about adding soil under maples. I thought,
great, this project will be a little easier if I don’t have to dig down into
the roots.

Now I don’t know what to do. The dense shade of this tree (the village own
it and trims it) completely blocks out sun. It doesn’t have low branches, it’s
more like a solid ball of leaves.

It’s an awfully large area to cover with mulch
alone. The area is about 8 feet wide
and 20+ feet long. I’ll measure it today, it might be even longer. That is a
lot of area just to look at mulch. It runs virtually the entire width of my
lot. It’s only at the far ends that enough sun gets in to let some grass grow. My
husband hates that our parkway is mostly bare dirt. I told him I’d come up with
a solution.
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
9 years ago
I LIKE that cardboard box idea. I am going to steel it for my oak. I also have used tire Planters under my oak. I plant Phlox pilosa under my oak. It spreads., But the light is not an intense shade.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
if the goo is labeled for this as a proper use.. knock yourself out ... dont take any guilt trip over such ...

IMHO .. a few inches of dirt is NOT going to kill nor harm this tree ... crikey.. 95% of its roots are probably way beyond the spot you are working ..

but that said.. ITS A TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY ... to buy the dirt ... as i swear.. within minutes.. the maple will have grown feeder roots into it.. to re-establish its dominance... you are not going to fool this bat turd with a little paper or card board ...

if you want to TRY ... just dig out small holes.. in native soil .. bare root your plants.. insert.. and water the devil out of them until they have a chance to compete with the monster ... ALWAYS broadcast water.. and NEVER fert just the babe ... else guess where the tree will grow new feeder roots .. which will choke out your plants ...

the idea is that you are trying to fool the tree.. into not knowing you are trying to plant other stuff under it ... and with the experience of growing 1650 hosts under trees ... i kinda have some experience with such ...

since i have the generic RU ... i would spray now... wait a few weeks.. to see what i missed ... [mostly because the grass isnt even greening yet in MI] ... then respray.. and just cover with 3 or 4 inches of good bark chunks ... the extra inch.. so that when it settles .. i will have the requisite 2 to 3 ... you can.. immediately.. plant in the dead grass .. [do try not to walk thru your killer.. get your shoes all wet with such.. and then walk across lawn you want to keep.. been there done that ... and with a garden tractor .. weeks later.. wondering what the heck all those lines in the lawn were.. lol]

and anything that pokes thru i would spot spray with a windex type hand spraying during the growing season ...

again .. the added soil.. is a waste of time and money.. and will only stimulate the tree to attacking whatever you plant in it ...

ken

Is this the right way to kill grass under a tree to plant groundcover?

mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)

Comments (7)

laceyvail 6A, WV

cecily

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Is this the right way to kill grass under a tree to plant groundcover?

mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)

Comments (7)

laceyvail 6A, WV

cecily

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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)Original Author

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linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
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