Any site looks more attractive when several mature trees grow on it. And so that the tree fits perfectly into the garden, we often decorate the base of the trunk with low-growing ornamental plants. Unfortunately, as the tree grows, the area around it turns into a barren wasteland, and choosing plants for such places becomes increasingly difficult. Why sowing a lawn and annual flower beds is not the best option for tree trunks, and what to plant under a tree, I will tell you in this article.
7 best plants for tree trunks
Lawn and beds of annuals under trees
Often the same problem can be observed in garden plots. The owners try to grow a lawn under the trees, but when the tree grows to an impressive size, the consequences of such an undertaking turn out to be disastrous: the grass thins out and looks very unattractive.
This outcome is predictable, because such places are very unfavorable for grass growth. Firstly, they tend to be quite shady, and secondly, trees absorb a lot of soil moisture, which makes it difficult for plants to grow underneath them. In addition, mowing the lawn around trees always carries the risk of damaging the tree bark with a lawn mower or trimmer, which can be especially dangerous for a young tree.
The second fairly common way of landscaping tree trunks - planting annual flowers under trees - is also one of the worst. Here the reason is mainly that many novice gardeners cover the area around the tree trunk with infertile soil and a thick layer of nutritious soil. Most often it looks like a circular or geometric raised bed around a tree trunk.
No matter how logical this approach may seem, it does not take into account the main factor in the growth of trees - their roots must “breathe”. It is believed that the root system of trees goes very deep into the ground. But in fact, in most species, part of the root system is located quite close to the soil surface, and these are very important roots for the tree. He needs them to absorb oxygen. If you cover these roots with a thick layer of soil, it will weaken or even kill the tree by cutting off its oxygen supply.
At the same time, we should also not forget that most annual plants are very light-loving and under trees in the shade of the crown they will not be able to reveal their full potential, they will bloom poorly or may even die. In addition, annual plants usually come from the southern regions and have an exotic appearance, which is not particularly harmonious with the trees of our latitudes.
Flowers under the trees
To decorate the root zone of trees with flowers, low perennials that love shade, as well as beautiful biennials and annuals, are best suited. They will have to be planted more often, but, as you know, beauty requires sacrifice.
Bright flower bed under a tree
Perennial flowers are chosen not only for practical reasons: among them there are most shade-loving species that prefer places protected from sunlight. A large number of shade-loving perennial flowers makes it possible to create original flower beds and compositions in the shade of garden trees.
How to plant flowers correctly?
As a rule, such plants grow naturally in the forest, so for rapid growth and rich flowering they need fertile soil with a high humus content. Such soil quickly absorbs and retains water well, and is well ventilated.
Since the soil in the garden bears little resemblance to forest soil, one cannot do without using fertilizers that will enrich it with the substances necessary for the growth of forest flowers. Compost is best suited for these purposes. The compost is spread out in a layer 5 cm thick and then carefully mixed with the top layer of soil. Every year in autumn and spring it is necessary to add 2-3 cm of fresh compost layer.
Leaves falling from trees can also be used to increase soil fertility. They cover perennials to protect them from frost, and in the spring they are transferred to the compost heap, where they will turn into fertilizer.
How to make the right choice of plants for tree trunk circles?
However, transforming the tree trunk circle is beneficial for the overall health of the tree, since the care you give to plants growing in such places is additional water and fertilizers that will help the tree meet its needs.
Selecting plants to plant under trees is an important step because the conditions under trees are unique and quite different from the rest of your garden.
The area under trees is usually quite shaded, especially under broadleaf trees. This requires choosing species that can grow well in conditions ranging from partial shade to full shade. The only exception is the spring-blooming bulbs, which usually bloom long before the tree's canopy opens to form a canopy, so the area under the tree is much sunnier in the spring than later in the season.
The area under the tree can be very dry as trees are known to suck up a lot of moisture from the surrounding soil. If you don't plan on watering much, make sure to choose plants that are fairly tolerant of dry soil conditions.
The soil near the tree may be somewhat deprived of nutrients because the tree will consume a lot of them. Therefore, it is best to avoid plants that require special care, unless you are willing to spend time on regular feeding.
Soil acidity (pH) conditions may be unique, as the tree may slightly change the chemistry of the soil beneath it. For example, pine trees can cause the soil to become acidic over time due to the decomposition of fallen needles. It would be correct to conduct a soil test under the tree, and based on the results, select plants that are well suited to the chemical composition of the soil.
Alternative options
In addition to planting flowers and shrubs, the area under the trees can be used to create a space for relaxation and install a gazebo. This is a particularly good option when planting conifers that do not tolerate “neighbors from below,” as well as other trees that create unfavorable conditions for root vegetation.
Sodding
The grass on the tree-trunk lawn looks just great
Sodding or grassing is the simplest, as well as the most beautiful and budget-friendly way to decorate an area under a tree. With the correct laying of a lawn near the trunk, you can not only create an excellent place for a gazebo, but also solve a complex of other problems:
- improve the overall condition of the soil
- reduce soil salinity
- rid trees of chlorosis
- improve fruit quality
- prevent soil drying out
- protect roots from damage when cultivating the soil
Low grass of a bright green hue, for example, bentgrass, looks especially good on a tree-trunk lawn. She looks very juicy and well-groomed. Also suitable are white clover, meadow fescue, sheep fescue or red fescue, meadow grass and perennial ryegrass.
You cannot tin the soil under trees on clonal rootstocks.
Mulching
Under natural conditions, mulch is continuously formed in the root zone of the tree. Mulch is a covering of natural materials that retains moisture and suppresses weed growth.
Mulching the tree trunk circle
Mulch also protects against:
- erosions
- washing out
- freezing
An important criterion when choosing a material for mulching is the ability to pass air to the trunk, root collar, and tree roots. Also, mulch should not prevent the release of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from the soil.
Mulching trees: different options
Both organic and inorganic materials can be used for mulching:
1Dry leaves, not damaged by any diseases, help provide the soil with much-needed humus and saturate it with calcium and magnesium. But there are also disadvantages: first the material must be composted, and during the winter pests often appear in the leaves.
2The needles are suitable for soil with low acidity; in addition, it reliably protects the soil from small rodents. But the resin, which inevitably falls on the soil along with it, can negatively affect the processes occurring in the soil.
3Sawdust and wood shavings perfectly retain snow and acidify the soil. But as they decompose, the access of nitrogen to the root area decreases, so before using as mulch, sawdust must be kept for two years with the addition of sand, nitrogen fertilizers and dolomite.
4Mown grass has a beneficial effect on the soil structure and enriches it with carbon. But you shouldn’t make the mulch layer too dense: mucus may form and “burn” the plant.
5Hay is not only very nutritious, but also rots quickly, enriching the soil with minerals, beneficial microelements and other valuable substances. However, hay mulch can attract rodents, slugs, and also encourage the growth of weeds, the seeds of which are often contained in the straw. In addition, bushes and trees with hay mulch take longer to wake up in the spring: it does not contribute to rapid warming of the soil.
6Bark and wood chips are suitable for mulching the trunk circles of mature trees. They are laid in a second layer on top of the compost. But before use, it is necessary to ventilate the mulch to remove toxins. This coating option is durable, but it can provoke a lack of ozone in the soil.
7Cardboard and shredded paper can be used as a bed for grass clippings, leaves or compost. However, since these materials are inorganic, they do not nourish the soil.
8Agrofibre perfectly allows air and moisture to pass through, without forming a soil crust that impedes drainage and aeration of the soil. The main disadvantage of such mulch is that it must be removed when fertilizing and loosening, and then laid back.
9Stones, tracing paper and gravel help create a comfortable level of humidity and healthy heat exchange of the root zone. However, such mulch negatively affects the acidity of the soil and slows down the accumulation of useful organic matter.
10Compost improves the structure of the soil, perfectly controls evaporation, provides good drainage, and nourishes the soil with useful substances and microelements. This is the best option for mulch made from natural organic material.
Periwinkle
Lesser periwinkle (Vinca Minor) is an unpretentious and very pest-resistant ground cover with attractive foliage and flowers. The stems of this plant are creeping and take root in the axils, spreading across the ground and turning into a beautiful flowering carpet that can fill a large area and inhibit the growth of weeds.
Lesser periwinkle (Vinca Minor). © Lauren
Periwinkle most often produces blue flowers, but they can also be lavender, purple or white. From time to time, periwinkle will produce flowers in the summer, but this flowering will not be as abundant as it happens in spring.
The foliage of periwinkle is dark green, but in varietal forms it may have a yellow or cream central stripe or border. Periwinkle grows in partial sun, partial shade and full shade. Tolerates deep shade well, but can burn in direct sunlight. Although the plants will grow best in moisture-retentive soils, periwinkle is quite drought tolerant.
Introduction
The most successful solution would be to plant plants that tolerate a lack of sunlight well, and also do not suffer from the chemical characteristics of the soil under the trees and insufficient moisture, due to the fact that the trees take most of the soil water for themselves.
Example of a flower bed under a tree
Ordinary flowers or grass are not suitable for planting under trees : they will be pale and limp, or even wither. Therefore, it is worth choosing plants adapted to such conditions. You can also solve the problem by mulching or sprinkling the roots of the tree with gravel.
When choosing crops for planting under a tree, you should pay attention to the degree of illumination in the planted area:
- partial shade: the sun illuminates the area only in the morning or evening, for 4-6 hours a day
- shade: direct sunlight does not reach the area, it is illuminated for about an hour with diffused sunlight
- deep shadow: no sunlight penetrates at all
Such an analysis will help to select plants in accordance with the conditions of the future location. For areas in partial shade, flowers and shrubs are suitable for which light is not critical, or they can easily tolerate small amounts of it. But in the shade it is better to plant shade-tolerant crops that will produce abundant greenery and bloom even in the absence of light.
Geranium macrorhizomatous
macrorrhizum is a hardy geranium, a perennial plant with saucer-shaped flowers in pink, purple and blue hues and lobed leaves. Geraniums are easy to grow and will bloom for months in the shade, providing a long season of pollen and nectar for a range of pollinators (and especially bees).
Large-rhizome geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum). © Mozarta
The most popular variety 'Ingwersen's Variety' is especially beautiful. It blooms with pale pink flowers on dark red stems from June to October. This geranium is ideal for use as a ground cover under trees. It is easy to grow and tolerates most conditions except waterlogged soil.
This plant can cope with such difficult conditions as dry shade under the canopy of trees. But large-rhizome geranium is suitable for both sun and shade. It is recommended to regularly remove spent flowers to prolong flowering.
Vegetable garden in the shade of trees
You can grow herbs and root crops in the shade of trees
If on a spacious plot you can place a gazebo or lawn under a tree, then in conditions of limited space every piece of land counts. A way out of the situation may be to plant vegetables and herbs in the shade of trees that are not picky about the amount of sunlight.
This way you can not only decorate the root zone around the tree, but also harvest root crops, herbs and other garden crops.
But, before planting a vegetable garden under a tree, you need to take into account a number of nuances:
1when protecting trees from pests, chemicals may be required that will also affect vegetables under the crown
2some crops have a developed root system and can harm the tree under which they grow
Digging beds under a tree can damage its roots
If a gardener decides to plant beds under a tree, you should pay attention to the following crops:
- perennial onions: in addition to greenery, they can bloom beautifully. For example, chives have huge lilac caps. No worse than regular flowers
- shoots of young wild garlic are good for health, and the plant itself feels great in the shade
- rhubarb thrives in conditions of lack of sunlight
- beets in the shade only become sweeter, but the root vegetables will be small in size
- borage grows best in heavily shaded conditions. Borage is not afraid of spring cold snaps and does not require special care
To summarize, it can be noted that the shadow of trees is not at all a reason to refuse blooming greenery under the canopies. There are many flowers and shrubs that thrive under the protection of a tree crown. The main thing is not to forget about hydration and provide a sufficient amount of nutrients by regularly fertilizing the soil with compost.
Pachysandra apex
Pachysandra terminalis is an evergreen perennial whose foliage does not die off in winter, but only turns slightly yellow. This groundcover produces delicate white flowers in spring but is grown primarily for its persistent, leathery, dark green leaves. This species has dark green leaves, but there are also variegated varieties with a light border along the edges of the leaf blade.
Pachysandra terminalis
This plant is best grown in partial to full shade, in acidic soil enriched with compost. Pachysandra apex is a very resilient perennial. Its “tolerance” allows it to solve four main problems familiar to gardeners: pests, drought, shade, heavy clay soils.
This plant is an effective ground cover for weed control as it spreads to form a dense cover that inhibits weed growth. But pachysandra's hardiness can be a double-edged sword. To prevent it from becoming an aggressor, the tree trunk circle must be fenced off with border tape.
What plants to plant in tree trunk circles
Most perennial plants prefer open, sunny meadows. In our case, they will have to be content with those rare rays of light that will break through the crown of the tree. Therefore, choose shade-loving and shade-tolerant plants: dwarf conifers, bulbous plants and annuals. In conditions of partial shading they feel best:
- digitalis,
- lily of the valley,
- hosta,
- nasturtium,
- marigold,
- anemone,
- ivy,
- primrose and others.
When decorating tree trunk areas, slowly growing plants need to be planted more densely to achieve a beautiful carpet effect
The design of tree trunk circles has one of two main purposes: a decorative effect and additional protection of the tree from insects. For example, nasturtium protects cherries and apple trees from apple worm and blood aphids. Chamomile and marigold repel aphids and nematodes, and lily of the valley prevents the development of root rot in stone fruit crops.
Creeping tenacious
Creeping creeper (Ajuga reptans) is a fast-growing herbaceous perennial ground cover plant (the name of the species speaks for itself - “creeping”). Although it blooms with very attractive blue-violet inflorescences, it is mainly valued for its foliage.
Creeping tenacious (Ajuga reptans). © Universität Göttingen
Tenacious is excellent for filling large shady areas where lawns are difficult to grow, but can work well on banks or slopes, planted around trees and shrubs. The plant forms a dense mat that suppresses weeds.
The survivor is so resilient that it can even grow under black walnut (Juglans nigra), which produces a chemical that interferes with the growth of other plants. However, you should be careful when planting the grasshopper near lawns because it can quickly spread to lawn grass.
The creeping tenacious feels good in bright sun or in partially shaded places. When growing varietal plants, it is worth keeping in mind that foliage color will be most vibrant when the plant receives at least three to four hours of sunlight per day. Depending on the variety, the tenacious can have tricolor variegated foliage, or leaves of a chocolate brown or purple hue, as well as variegated ones.
What flowers and plants are suitable for planting?
Below is a short list of flowers that will feel comfortable in the shade of trees.
Periwinkle
Lesser periwinkle Lesser periwinkle is an evergreen shrub that reaches a height of 15 cm . It belongs to forest plants that prefer beech, oak and sometimes pine forests, as well as bushes. In its natural environment, periwinkle grows on slopes near river valleys, as well as on the upper and middle parts of the slope, in clearings.
This plant loves shaded areas with moderate soil moisture. Periwinkle is often found on gravelly and rocky slopes, so it will thrive in the garden near stone or crushed stone mulch.
Soil and care
The plant is a shade-tolerant species and does not grow well in the sun, but the optimal option for it is moderate darkening. This is an excellent option for planting in open ground, as it tolerates frost well, is resistant to bad weather and is easy to care for.
Periwinkle is also unpretentious to soil, but fertile soil with good drainage ensures more powerful flowering.
The plant is responsive to fertilizing and fertilizers of organic origin. It is best to use humus, compost, or leaf soil for these purposes. To achieve good bushiness, you should pinch old and young shoots from time to time. For the winter, it is better to cover the periwinkle to protect it from freezing.
Periwinkle delights the eye with its blooms throughout spring and summer. The flowers are small in size and have a delicate purple hue. The small periwinkle does not suffer at all from severe darkening, but needs soil with a high level of fertility and moderate moisture. If you plant it in a dry place, then frequent watering cannot be avoided.
Creeping tenacious
Creeping tenacious Creeping tenacious (Latin name Ajuga reptans) is a herbaceous perennial that grows up to 20 cm in height. The plant owes its name to its unpretentious nature: the tenacious feels comfortable in almost any conditions.
It easily survives drought and grows both on fertile soil and on rocky soil. In nature, it is often found in deciduous forests and in the shade of dense bushes. Therefore, under a tree in the garden you will feel at home.
The plant prefers soil with a high content of limestone. This is an excellent option for a tree growing on a slope. Creeping tenacious will not only decorate the root zone, but also prevent soil erosion.
Creeping tenacious has soft, short-haired leaves, and in May and June it delights gardeners with blue and purple flowers. Today, about 40 varieties of this plant are known, which grow in various parts of the planet.
Initially, the flowers of the tenacious were blue, but through the efforts of breeders, many varieties of different shades were obtained.
The main differences between the species are:
- plant height
- leaf shape
- flowering duration
- bud color
- presence of a pattern on the leaves
For example, the Burgundy Glow has multi-colored leaves that change color depending on the type of soil and the level of light in the area. The leaves can be brownish, lilac, or red. Such a rich color palette creates a stunningly beautiful floral carpet. This variety feels great in the shade of bushes and trees.
Another variety of creeping tenacious, impressive in its beauty, is Multicolor . Its purple leaves have red, yellow and orange splashes. Depending on the lighting, the greenery takes on one shade or another, creating a rich texture of the green carpet.
Planting and care
In order for the tenacious to feel comfortable and please the eye with an abundance of greenery, it is necessary to follow the basic rules for planting this plant and caring for it: The tenacious is propagated by seeds or by dividing bushes. But for successful planting, you first need to prepare the soil under the tree.
This should be a moderately dark place, preferably loam with a high humus content. Seeds are sown in pre-prepared holes and carefully sprinkled with soil.
Speckled lily
Speckled lily Speckled lily (Latin name Lamium maculatum) reaches a height of 20-30 cm and is a perennial wild plant. Europe, Iran, the countries of Asia and North Africa are considered to be the birthplace of the claret.
The plant has many species, some of which are classified as weeds. But a number of varieties are successfully used in landscape design, for example, speckled or spotted yamyami.
With the help of jasmine, you can create a beautiful flowering carpet at the foot of the trees. Its hollow stems spread along the ground, taking root at the nodes. It has heart-shaped, jagged leaves and pink or purple inflorescences. Speckled lily blooms from July to August.
Planting and care
Speckled jasmine should be planted in shaded areas with a sufficient level of humidity. It will feel most comfortable under the canopy of a tree, but may require watering during dry periods. It is better to plant the plant on the western or eastern side of the garden plot.
Yasna has no requirements for the composition of the soil, the main thing is that it is loose and with a good drainage system. If the soil is rich in nutrients, then the jasmine grows into a lush carpet, but its decorative properties deteriorate. Therefore, you should not overuse feeding.
Pachysandra apex
Pachysandra apical Pachysandra apical (Latin name Pachysandra terminalis) is a low shrub 30 cm tall with dark green shiny leaves. Pachysandra belongs to the evergreen plants of the boxwood family, which have a highly developed rhizome.
There are four species in the pachysandra genus, three of which originally grew in East Asia, and one in North America.
Appearance
Pachysandra apex is an ornamental plant that is used in landscape design. A subshrub with non-woody shoots spreads along the ground, creating a dense cover in the shade of a tree that does not change its appearance throughout the year.
This is an excellent option for decorating a garden plot in a region with a warm climate. In May-June, its greenish-white flowers bloom, which add additional elegance to the plant.
The leaves on short petioles are 5-8 cm long, they grow in tiers, each of which lives for three years. Biennial leaves grow on the lower tier, annual leaves grow on the middle tier, and young fresh shoots grow on the upper tier.
Growing conditions
This plant needs protection from frost, especially if there is little snow, and during dry periods it will require additional watering. The plant easily tolerates frost up to 30 degrees, but does not like wind. Pachysandra apex does not tolerate direct sunlight; it does best in the shade. In the bright sun, its leaves become faded and inconspicuous.
During the rooting process, the plant needs moderate watering, and then is content with natural moisture from precipitation and groundwater. Pachyzadra prefers turf or leafy soil mixed with sand. Feeding is not required, nor is loosening. Diseases and pests avoid this plant.
Biennials
Despite the great popularity of perennial plants, which do not need to be renewed every year, biennials are also popular with gardeners. After all, sometimes you want variety, and not see the same flowerbed year after year.
Pansies
Pansies The most popular biennial is Pansies. The plant has many varieties, each of which has beautiful inflorescences of bright colors. You can choose one color, or sow several types at once to create a variegated flower carpet.
The appearance of these flowers is especially impressive in the spring, when they bloom in lush spots in the shade of trees. The second name for pansies is viola.
These flowers have long become a favorite plant of gardeners, who appreciated:
- rich color range
- frost resistance
- miniature flowers
All this has made Pansies one of the most popular garden plants for several centuries.
Growing conditions and care
Pansies feel comfortable in the shade of trees and get along well in the vicinity of many other flowers: daffodils, tulips. Hybrid varieties bred by breeders tolerate both frost and cold well.
Therefore, they can be planted in the spring. Both in summer and autumn. In addition, they are extremely unpretentious, and bloom richly even in the most modest conditions.
Forget-me-nots
Forget-me-nots Another option for luxurious decoration of the root zone of trees is forget-me-nots. They grow well in low light conditions and delight the eye with their bright blue inflorescences.
Forget-me-nots have long been used in folk medicine to treat pulmonary diseases. But they won the hearts of flower growers precisely with their beauty, and not with the possibility of practical application. They are planted in gardens in many countries around the world.
Care
Forget-me-nots do not require special care; they grow well in the shade and in infertile soil. They grow best in fresh soils with sufficient but moderate moisture. Forget-me-nots bloom in May and continue until mid-July.
In the shade, the duration of the flowering period increases, so under the tree the carpet of flowers will be especially impressive. Sometimes they are planted in combination with ferns for additional shade.
Plants for trees with tall crowns
In the shade of tall trees, low shrubs and flowers with tall inflorescences look great. If they are lost in combination with young trees, then the tall, large trunk of an adult tree will look quite impressive against their background.
Khosta
Hosta Hosta (Latin name Hosta) has several varieties, each of which has its own characteristics of appearance and height. For planting under the crown of a tree, a hosta with evenly green or grayish leaves is suitable.
These varieties survive the lack of light best. If the soil is sufficiently moist, the hosta will delight the eye with magnificent foliage. In addition, it goes well with other annuals and perennials.
Volzhanka vulgare
Common Volzhanka Common Volzhanka (Latin name Aruncus dioicus) reaches a height of 150 cm. It is a perennial shrub with lacy feathery leaves. The plant has paniculate inflorescences of small white and greenish flowers.
Volzhanka vulgare blooms from June to July. The only significant disadvantage of the shrub is its intolerance to drought; watering will have to be carefully monitored.
Ferns
Ferns Ferns are an excellent option for decorating an area under trees. There are many varieties of this plant, but for areas with heavy shade, the male shield plant (Dryopteris filix-mas) is best.
It needs moist soil with a high content of humus.
Viburnum common
Viburnum Viburnum Viburnum feels great in the shade. This tree is small in height, reaching about 90 cm. In spring, viburnum delights with its small flowers, and in autumn with beautiful berries.
It can also be used as a hedge.
Hydrangea paniculata
Hydrangea paniculata Hydrangea paniculata will do well in places. Where light penetrates only after lunch. Its inflorescences in the form of fluffy panicles bloom quite high above the ground.
They start out white and then, as they ripen, turn pink and then bright pink.
Red and black currants
Red and black currants Both red and black currants love moisture very much, so they are afraid of strong sun and feel comfortable in the shade of tall trees. Worth keeping this in mind.
That when planted in the shade, the berries on the bushes will ripen more slowly.
Raspberries
Raspberries Raspberries feel great in the shade of trees and bear fruit with fragrant and large berries. Like all shade-loving plants, it prefers fertile, moist soil.
Irga
Irga Under natural conditions, the game grows under the forest canopy, so it will be comfortable in the garden in the shade of trees. This is a great opportunity not only to decorate a dark area of the garden, but also to eat delicious berries.
Ivy
Common ivy Common ivy (Latin name Hedera helix) is an evergreen climbing shrub, the shoots of which reach a length of 30 m. It grows well under the shade of trees with sufficient moisture.
Its shoots can be twisted around a tree trunk to create a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.
European hoofweed
European hooffoot European hooffoot (Latin name Asarum europaeum) is a perennial plant and reaches 10 cm in height.
The plant owes its name to its dark green, hoof-shaped leaves.
Lungwort
Lungwort (Pulmonaria) is a well-known forest plant that blooms in early spring. Representatives of this genus are usually short, although flower stalks can reach 30 centimeters in height. Bees and other pollinators love to visit their flowers. The leaves are covered with a thin layer of downy hairs and have a green tint, sometimes with speckling or mottled markings. The five-petalled flowers bloom in clusters. Typically the petals start out pinkish and then turn violet-blue, but the color can vary depending on the species and variety.
Lungwort (Pulmonaria). © Graeme Watts
Although the lungwort appreciates the shade cast by trees, it does not like to compete with trees for soil moisture. Therefore, if you do plant lungworts under the canopy of a tree, it is important to water them regularly. Lungworts prefer to grow in organically rich soil that also has good drainage.
Climate under the canopy
Fruit and other trees always greatly influence the conditions for the plants growing next to them. Young trees take all the nutrients for themselves, drying out the soil around them. Large trees create powerful shade.
Without letting in sunlight. Thus, the tree occupies not only the area on which it grows, but also significantly influences plants located at a distance of up to ten meters from it.
The crown of the apple tree allows a lot of light to pass through
To cope with the situation, when planting plants under the canopy of trees, it is necessary to remember such a characteristic as the climate of the tree trunk region of the sub-canopy area. This will help you correctly assess the characteristics of the soil and not make a mistake when buying flowers. After all, it will be very annoying if all the seedlings wither within a week.
Below are brief characteristics of the climate under the crown, depending on which tree the plants will be planted under:
- the crown of the apple tree allows enough sunlight to pass through, so it does not create a powerful shadow, but only protects the flowers from direct sunlight, while the plants have enough light for normal growth
- The spruce tree has a large dense shadow, and it almost does not allow water to pass through. Even in the rain it can be dry under the spruce. Coniferous litter acidifies the soil, so grass cannot be found in spruce forests. In such a situation, you should seriously think about gravel or leave everything as is.
- The pine crown lets in a lot of light, but its needles make the soil quite acidic
- bird cherry creates a thin shade, but dries out the soil greatly, taking away life-giving moisture from the plants growing at its foot
Heuchera
Heuchera is a perennial ornamental foliage plant with hundreds of varieties, distinguished by very bright leaves and small bell-shaped flowers that appear in spring or early summer on tall stems. Nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies.
Heuchera. © KL Gaffney
The leaves are round, lobed, pubescent, evergreen or semi-evergreen, depending on the climate. In addition to the traditional coral flowers with green leaves, new varieties have leaves in shades of purple, pink, lime green, gold, etc., often with distinctive venation and ruffled edges.
Heucheras like moderate humidity and thrive in partial shade. Keep in mind that plants planted in damp shade may be susceptible to fungal diseases if there is excess moisture. If your plants have problems, it is best to transplant them to a drier location.
Heucheras are short-lived perennials, so it is advisable to divide the bushes every three to five years in early spring or fall.
Spreading boron
Spreading pine pine (Milium effusum) is an interesting option for those who would like to see cereals under the trees. Spreading pine has light green hollow stems, each of which bears about four alternate linear leaves. The blades of flexible sheets reach 16 mm. During the flowering period, each stem ends in a panicle of spikelets, which has a pyramidal-oblong shape; in appearance it is airy and drooping. Particularly interesting in decorative floriculture is the 'Aureum' variety, which is distinguished by its greenish-yellow foliage color.
Spreading boron (Milium effusum). © RootGarden
Boron is suitable for light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clayey) soils, prefers well-drained soils, without stagnant moisture. Acidic, neutral, and alkaline soils are suitable for it. Can grow in full shade (in forest thickets) or partial shade, tolerates drought well. It is a cool season grass and grows quickly in the spring. Quite thermophilic, but winters well in the Moscow region.
