Where is Under the Oaks Gardener?
djacobz568sewi
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last monthlast modified: last monthdjacobz568sewi 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 MoreLandscaping under a shady oak
Comments (41)Well my opinion , is thus first to those who suggest cutting down the oak .They might check their local ordinances,you must acquire a permit before ever even thinking of harming these majestic trees. If you do and are caught by code enforcement it could cost you in hefty fines and having to plant many oaks for the one you destroyed all based on the girth of the trunk. Now to the planting of Bromeliads if you spend no time at all outside these plants are great as mosquito breeding grounds as they hold water in their throat and mosquitos will lay their eggs there ensuring blood sucking varmints galore. Some people have already made some great suggestions . My favorites are as follows Azaleas ( there are a lot of choices in flower colors and sizes. Azaleas are shallow rooter. So buying smaller one gallons can assure better results. Amending the soil by using Miracle grow potting soil will give you a great start. Remember if you want showy flowers in Feruary and March prune after flowering stops and never ever prune after 4 th of July . Otherwise you will cut off the buds. So cut only rooster tails ( tall scraggly unruly branches that grow twice as tall as the rest of the plant. Ferns are great and thrive under oaks and are fairly maintenance free. ,they also spread filling areas with little output of money. My favorites are Holly Ferns, Foxtail ferns and the old standard Boston ferns. A little fish emulsion amended into the soil prior to planting can garner good results. Camelias, Hydrangeas, are awesome as they live all year round . annuals can sometimes give you many months and even years of pleasure ( as they can reseed themselves) caladiums ( which are bulbs ) in a grouping surrounded by impatiens are wonderous way to get color in the shade of an Oak . Remember watering during hot months and a little osmocote mixed into the potting mix and sprinkled around each flower can give give your flowers months of food thanks to its time release formula. Philodendrons of all sorts are also a good choice. Mondo grass, liriope ( big blue or Aztec ( variegated) Asiatic jasmine is somewhat minimal maintenance and there are new varieties out, that have bright pink foliage mixed in and these newbies just love the shade. Oak leaves make a great natural mulch ( as when the leaves break down the turn the soil slightly acid P.H. And this is ideal for all the plants I have mentioned above. Also consider large boulders water features like a small water fall .running water splashes onto plants and the sound of water has a calming and cooling on humans when it is hot . Last the shade from large trees especially oaks can drop temperature by a few degrees . Couple that with a slight breeze and you will appreciate the shade of an oak especially on a hot day. Try to buy oaks from a reputable nursery. Live is the majestic tree that outlives most humans two three fold or more. Laura oaks are fast growing a six foot tree at planting with loving maintenance can see growth of twice to three times its height and width in 3 to 5 short years. Look around your neighborhood or surrounding coomunity if you spot an oak take note as to what plants are growing under oaks with your own similar exposure. To the person that stated sandy soil is just around your tree. Florida soil is primarily sandy . Last consult your local nurseryman,He will be the best investment . Rob...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 MoreScreen neighbors under oaks
Comments (6)The weeping yaupon varieties might also be worth considering for your situation. Unfortunately, hollies are not fast growers in general.... and even slower in shade. Burford holly is also solidly in your height range, but will want to grow as wide as tall. Will need a training prune 1 or 2 times a year to keep it from filling a huge chunk of your yard space. The dwarf variety tops out between 8 and 10 ft; we prune ours as a privacy screen to about a 2 ft thickness (~8 X 8 X 2 ft). A very nice and reliable evergreen with berries. Neil Sperry also recommends Nellie R. Stevens, Oakland, and Willowleaf hollies that would be worth looking into. He also mentions the cedar and magnolia options frequently suggested for screens. NRS is nice, though unfamiliar with the other narrower footprint hollies. Magnolia is beautiful, but fallen leaves can become a lot of work.... like them the best in neighbors' yards at least three houses away. :-) Texas mountain laurel might also work. Ours seems happy in partial sun as an under-story to pecan and crape myrtle. Though likely even slower growing than holly. I normally wouldn't recommend or plant another red tipped photinia, but would consider them for quick temporary cover, keeping them trimmed thin against the fence while the "permanent" screening plants get established....See More
undertheoaksgardener7b
last monthHydrangeas, front step hostas (Monkey Business, Rainforest Sunrise, and Tokudama aureonebulosa), and blue hostas (Mourning Dove, Gemstone, Blueberry Muffin$
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last monthundertheoaksgardener7b
last monthLots of rain for past couple days…
Summer Squall, Royal Charmer, Beyond Glory, and Ivory Coast
djacobz568sewi thanked undertheoaksgardener7bundertheoaksgardener7b
last monthLots 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.
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undertheoaksgardener7b
last monthValley’s Lemon Squash, Leather and Lace, Plum Delicious, and Wave Runner
djacobz568sewi thanked undertheoaksgardener7bdjacobz568sewi
last monthundertheoaksgardener7b
27 days agoJust 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.
djacobz568sewi thanked undertheoaksgardener7bdjacobz568sewi
26 days ago- djacobz568sewi thanked undertheoaksgardener7b
undertheoaksgardener7b
24 days ago“Green Devil” is one of her favorites, a sport I found on my old June Fever. She creates great spaces.
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djacobz568sewi
24 days agoundertheoaksgardener7b
24 days agoMy 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.
djacobz568sewi thanked undertheoaksgardener7bundertheoaksgardener7b
24 days agoThe 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.
djacobz568sewi thanked undertheoaksgardener7bundertheoaksgardener7b
23 days agoBought 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.
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22 days agomiles10612
22 days agomiles10612
22 days agoundertheoaksgardener7b
22 days agoPlum 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
21 days ago
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
21 days agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
21 days agoundertheoaksgardener7b
21 days agoSo, while I was ordering those hydrangeas, I also ordered Voices in the Wind.
djacobz568sewi
19 days ago
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