Suggestions for large shade trees on dry thin soils
7 years ago
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Dry shade suggestions
Comments (3)Lamium, Lamiastrum 'Herman's Pride', Trilliums, bloodroot, Dodacatheons, Pulmonarias, Polemonium reptans, Aquilegia, spring bulbs--Crocus tomassinianus, Narcissus 'Hawera', Chionodoxa, Scillas, Pushchinias....See MoreSuggestions for something to grow on dry/rooty soil?
Comments (6)I second catbird on the epimedium. Just started growing them this summer. They take DRY shade, I'm told, and so far, the one I bought is faring well. If nothing else, you can always grow mint! LOL. Also, I have variegated gold and green ivy. It's not as invasive as the common ivy. Also, liriope, which comes in the regular green, green & gold, and green & white. The regular green is much more invasive than the varigated ones. None of these plants mind the tree roots. I have dry shade and tons of trees all around the perimeter of my yard. If you want, you can also grow moneywort, chameleon plant (invasive nature), and most ferns don't mind tree roots either. That is where they mostly grow naturally is under the canopy of trees. A truly pretty one is the Japanese Painted fern. Hope this helps and good luck. Susan...See MoreSuggestions for Dry, Windy Shade
Comments (4)My understanding is that you will have to take some care not to kill the tree with too much soil and root disturbance. So I am not sure if is is feasible to plant large shrubs for a windbreak. That said, aucubas,nandinas, mahonia all survive in my zone (7) under a silver maple but I don't know if you would have to start with very young shrubs (suited to your zone) and wait a long time for them to grow up. By only adding a couple inches of compost and mulch I have been able to grow vinca groundcover, daylilies and small low-spreading nandina shrubs, and a few other tough perennials, under my silver maple. Because I'm not ready for it to keel over yet I have been trying not to go wild with planting large or deep things since they would require more soil. I also am using a couple of large planters under the tree. This is easier in my zone because many trees and shrubs are winter-hardy in containers here, but containers are one way to get instant height under a tree. I may be being overly cautious but have been warned that the tree may suffer but I may not know it until some years later....See MoreLooking for narrow shrub that can handle part shade and dry soil
Comments (2)Hey there! The University of Minnesota Extension has a guide to choosing evergreens that could help. Scroll down and there is a list of suggestions for soil type and shade. Good luck! http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/trees-shrubs/choosing-landscape-evergreens/...See More- 7 years ago
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