Where is Under the Oaks Gardener?
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last yearlast modified: last yeardjacob Z6a SE WI thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5Related Discussions
Fern Garden Under Oaks
Comments (3)I have many varieties of ferns under my burr oaks. Ostrich,lady,interrupted, christmas, japanese painted come to mind right off the bat. I had to clear a lot of brush and invasive sapplings, but I did not add any soil. The soil is rich and wonderful from years of composting oak leaves. My ferns all are happy and thriving. Roots do not seem to be a problem....See MorePlanting under oak tree
Comments (21)I have six large white oaks in my yard and I live in the Willamette Valley in Oregon (lucky in every way). Oaks are allelopathic but certain plants in Oregon are adapted to grow near and under the trees. Ferns, hostas, heucheras all grow under Oak trees naturally in Oregon. The trees are very sensitive to water especially along the base and mushrooms will grow on the base of the trunk as well as the root lines if irrigated/watered heavily. It is important to keep plants a distance away so that water doesn't creep onto the tree base. The roots spread equally about 3 feet down with some deeper rooting at the center - one fell in the oak grove behind my house last winter...very unusual. It is important not to disturb these roots when planting around the tree as injured roots make the tree more susceptible to disease. I have planted Astilbe, coral bells, azalias, rhododendron, Hydrangeas, heliotypes, forsythia and hellebores, coleus and begonias in addition to plants mentioned previously, under the canopy of the oaks, but I have so many I have a larger area to plant in without disturbing the trees. I am trying Japanese Anemone, but it is poisonous so it requires more care to assure animals (dogs, cats) don't get into it. These plants do well in dappled shade under the oaks rather than total shade. I try to supplement my soil with mulch every year. I carefully cultivate by hand the 7 foot by 45 foot garden under my trees with a special rake to break up the soil, add in commercial mulch and organic soil by hand and use a drip watering system with small water lines going to the base of each plant to prevent over watering. The first year is the worst, it gets better as the soil gets more an more conditioned, especially because my soil is a bit "clay" like. Hope this was helpful....See MorePlanting Flower Garden Under Pine & Oak Trees
Comments (1)I wouldn't cut down a tree to grow flowers; you just need to find out what kind of flowering plants do well in your environment. You can check with garden clubs or with the county agricultural extension office in your county to see what plants thrive in your area. The ones I can think of that grow in acid soil in shady conditions are azaleas & camillias. If you post an ad on craigslist or freecycle, "free pine needles, rake your own", I bet you'll get a lot of fresponses from eager gardeners!...See MoreFern Garden Under Oaks - Question
Comments (4)Amelia, I have ferns growing underneath killer maples and the ferns are doing fine. I had to dig up clay and surface roots to be be able to plant there and still built it up a few inches, but also used a lot of organic matter and even amended the baby ferns with some perlite and vermiculite when I first planted them. (I was really paranoid about moisture loss.) With the amendments, my soil stays very moist and I then topdress with manure in the spring. This helps keep them moist too. Before I did this, I asked around what to do under the killer maples. I was told either to dig out the clay or make holes in the clay with a post hole digger or build up the area over the roots. And amend the clay like crazy. (I was also told NOTHING will grow there and chop down the tree!) Other areas of the yard for rugged stuff like ivy, I just make holes in the clay and amend it a little. (Ivy will grow anywhere on anything including clay so compacted it should be a tennis court.) I'm an organic gardener and also use other stuff including cottonseed meal. Cottonseed meal attracts earthworms like crazy. I call it "Earthworm Gold". The worms are very happy here and stick around to help break up the soil, aerate the roots, and deliver usable nutrients. I thought all ferns liked moist acid rich soil and were heavy feeders. If you know of ferns that don't need this, please let me know. I'd love to try ferns without any work...if you find some that will grow in hard clay, let me know about those too! Good luck!...See More
undertheoaksgardener7b
last yearHydrangeas, front step hostas (Monkey Business, Rainforest Sunrise, and Tokudama aureonebulosa), and blue hostas (Mourning Dove, Gemstone, Blueberry Muffin$
djacob Z6a SE WI thanked undertheoaksgardener7bdjacob Z6a SE WI
last yearundertheoaksgardener7b
last yearLots of rain for past couple days…
Summer Squall, Royal Charmer, Beyond Glory, and Ivory Coast
djacob Z6a SE WI thanked undertheoaksgardener7bundertheoaksgardener7b
last yearLots of rain means deadfall danger when gardening under oak trees.
Touch of Class with Soul Shine and Summer Serenade, “Green Devil” with Rainbow’s End, Olive Bailey Langdon, and favorite spot with medium-size deadfall.
djacob Z6a SE WI thanked undertheoaksgardener7b- djacob Z6a SE WI thanked undertheoaksgardener7b
undertheoaksgardener7b
last yearValley’s Lemon Squash, Leather and Lace, Plum Delicious, and Wave Runner
djacob Z6a SE WI thanked undertheoaksgardener7bdjacob Z6a SE WI
last yearundertheoaksgardener7b
last yearJust got 2 hydrangeas for my MIL. Here they are straight out of their shipping boxes. That Bobo on the left is stunning. Originally, she was only going to take the Litte Lime Punch on the right and leave the Bobo for me. Then she saw Bobo. She is a real ace with hydrangeas.
djacob Z6a SE WI thanked undertheoaksgardener7bdjacob Z6a SE WI
last year- djacob Z6a SE WI thanked undertheoaksgardener7b
undertheoaksgardener7b
last year“Green Devil” is one of her favorites, a sport I found on my old June Fever. She creates great spaces.
djacob Z6a SE WI thanked undertheoaksgardener7b- djacob Z6a SE WI thanked undertheoaksgardener7b
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djacob Z6a SE WI
last yearundertheoaksgardener7b
last yearMy MIL found out that I was posting photos of her garden and asked me to capture a few more spots. First one is Dinky Donna. Rest are areas she likes a lot for obvious reasons.
djacob Z6a SE WI thanked undertheoaksgardener7bundertheoaksgardener7b
last yearThe side gate my FIL made for her. The tree house he has been making with my boys. Her favorite garden sculpture. Dance with Me among the ferns.
djacob Z6a SE WI thanked undertheoaksgardener7bundertheoaksgardener7b
last yearBought another Bobo and Little Lime Punch, which arrived today (2 days early). I planted them immediately after fixing a crowding issue with one of my older hydrangeas (Shooting Star). Also, Bridal Falls and Fog Light looked nice today.
djacob Z6a SE WI thanked undertheoaksgardener7bdjacob Z6a SE WI
last yearmiles10612
last yearmiles10612
last yearundertheoaksgardener7b
last yearPlum Delicious is quite blue! Here it is today 7/18/22, with Dixie Cups, Blue Jay, and Skywriter for comparison. In the big pot on right is World Cup, Fragrant Blue, Virginia Reel, and Limey Lisa.
miles10612
last year
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
last yearken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last yearundertheoaksgardener7b
last yearSo, while I was ordering those hydrangeas, I also ordered Voices in the Wind.
djacob Z6a SE WI
last yearundertheoaksgardener7b
last yearDebra, Voices in the Wind has had a second flush of leaves on a new eye.
lindalana 5b Chicago
last yearfrankielynnsie
last yearundertheoaksgardener7b
last year
undertheoaksgardener7b