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

Hi Julie...You're in the bay area so a nice marine influence for pleasing azaleas? Here conditions are perfect for azaleas and rhododendrons, so they have no other problems to contend with other than a little root competition. My maple could be smaller than yours, it's Orido Nishiki and aprox 12 x 10', maybe a little smaller. I waste no space - have none to waste. The maple has billardiera longiflora (tiny leafed evergreen vine) growing through it, azalea, maidenhair fern, dwarf solomon's seal, cimicifuga brunette and hellebores under it. I do mulch with compost every spring, fertilize nothing, and have a drip hose wound throughout to keep all happy. Dig around a little and see if you have planting pockets without too many roots in your way, you'll know if azaleas will work for you there. The also evergreen oriental hybrid hellebores are thriving under my maple too...you can't be locked indoors in your climate in winter either and might enjoy those for the winter flowering interest - my gray damp winters need it. Here is a link that might be useful:

I am afraid that most of the trees you mention will ultimately, if they aren't already, get way too tall with trunks that wouldn't allow the clematis much to grab onto to allow them to climb them. Dogwoods and apple trees might be the exception to the list. Too bad it is uncertain whether montana clematis would bloom in your area since they can get huge and once they got into the canopy, they could easily survive in the larger trees. I personally have type III clematis growing in a japanese maple, japanese styrax tree, a fosterii holly bush, variegated privet bush, a Otto Luyken laurel bush, and some others that I have probably thought of. Alina, not too sure about the tap root thing. Most trees and shrubs have fibrous root systems and clematis can grow around them with no issues provided they are given enough water and nutrients. If you google trees and taproots, you will find several articles disputing the idea that trees have taproots. Here are a few quotes I found. "Most trees do not have tap roots. In sandy, well-drained soils some trees such as oaks and pines develop deep roots directly beneath the trunk. These are commonly called tap roots. Many trees never develop tap roots. When the water table is close to the soil surface or when the soil is compacted, tap roots do not develop. Tap roots generally do not form on trees planted in our urban landscapes." "Most trees begin life with a taproot, but after one to a few years the main root system changes to a wide-spreading fibrous root system with mainly horizontal growing surface roots and only a few vertical, deep anchoring roots. A typical mature tree 30Â50 m tall has a root system that extends horizontally in all directions as far as the tree is tall or more, but well over 95% of the roots are in the top 50 cm depth of soil." "MYTH #8: The root system of a tree is a mirror image of the top. Many people envision a large, branching taproot growing deep into the soil. Actually, taproots are very uncommon in mature trees. If taproots do develop, they usually will be forced into horizontal growth when they encounter hard subsoils beneath the surface. The entire root systems of most trees can be found within three feet of soil. The spread of the root system however, can be very extensive, often extending 2-3 times the spread of the crown."

i hate to say it.. but forget about trying to grow them under that tree.. its roots are already at the surface... and frankly.. EVERY TIME YOU STICK A SHOVEL IN AND SEVER A ROOT.. IT WILL BE REPLACED BY 100 NEW ROOTS ... ergo i suggest pots... i hate pots... but many peeps have good luck with them .... i will even give you the pots that are stored in my barn for free .... barretts in adrian also has a recycle program.. and i am pretty sure you can go take them if you want them ... almost all nurseries have a pile of pots they are willing to give away ..... besides.. if you succeed .. you can take them with you when you move.. go figure on that .... now... would you care to work like a dog for some plants???? i have to move a bunch of clumps... and might be willing to give small pieces for starts for some labor .... how about you come over some evening with fiancee and have a tour and get some pots.. and we can discuss acquisition ... i am on the way to Tecumseh .... email me from my members page .... think about it ...ken PS: fall planting in zone 5 can lead to winter heave ... now is prime time to plant/move hosta ... they are beginning to grow roots and store food for next year ...