Planting Under Trees - Part 2

light mix in an area full of tree roots, you will need to be able to provide supplemental water during hot, dry periods, so this option is not practical if you simply can't run a hose to the area.

The technique for planting shrubs, like the Rhododenron hedge in the photo (taken about a year after planting), is a bit different. The ground at this forest edge was a web of roots; impossible to dig. I cleared the vines, wild roses, seedling trees and other surface vegetation and set the Rhododendron rootballs right on top of the original soil (after watering it thoroughly). Then, I dumped my acid-lovers mix around the rootballs, feathering it out so that the sides of the mound around each ball weren't too steep. This gave me a moonscape of mounds and craters. After watering the mix around each plant thoroughly and topping up with mix where needed, I flattened everything out by filling in the craters with woodchips and using the same woodchips as mulch around the shrubs.

I didn't have time (and still haven't gotten to it) to build a proper wall at the base of the slope created by grading the driveway and exacerbated by this operation, so I just piled rocks to stop the mulch from ending up in the driveway. In front of the hedge, I planted some excess daffodil bulbs and some Pulmonaria 'Mrs. Moon', which I have in quantity.

This photo shows the same hedge, from about the same location (the same tree trunk in the middle), five years later. 'Mrs. Moon' has spread herself down the slope, completely hiding the rocks. The Rhododendrons were two to three feet tall when planted and are now over six feet tall.

Well, I've talked so much about planting mixes and techniques, I haven't gotten to plants. I'll tell you about some of the plants I grow under trees next time. See ya' later.

More Information

• Healthy Roots and Healthy Trees gives you some quick facts and then explores in more depth where roots grow and why they grow there, the causes of root injury and disease and how to recognize whether you've got a root problem.

• If you do have to cut tree roots for any reason, ROOT PRUNING GUIDELINES from the city of Vancouver will tell you just how far from the trunk you need to
  The copyright of the article Planting Under Trees - Part 2 in Shade Gardening is owned by Marge Talt. Permission to republish Planting Under Trees - Part 2 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

  Go To Page: 1 2 3 4 5

  Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic