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 be, based on the size of your tree.
- If you haven't seen Tom Clothier's excellent article on Making Your Own Soil, go read it because this is just what you'll be doing when you plant under mature trees!
If you're still trying to figure out just what kind of tree you've got, here are some places to go:
- A dichotomous key for identifying conifers. This is particularly aimed at people in Oregon, but will help in many places where the same conifers grow.
- TheEvergreen Project has examples of some common North American tree leaves to help you identify your trees.
- If you're still trying to identify your trees, the Gopher directory at the University of Wisconsin contains a good list of reference images for common genera.
Don't miss anything!
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Gardening in Shade is just one of the forty (and more coming) different gardening topics you can visit here on Suite 101, covering everything from annuals to zucchini.
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