Shade Gardens Under Tree
Gardening under oak trees is tricky to say the least.
Shade gardens under tree. They have to squeeze their little roots into spaces around the trees larger roots deal with a lack of light and there is always competition for moisture and nutrients. It s hard to believe but trees can be sensitive to any damage to their roots and bark. The traditional way of landscaping beneath or around a tree was to edge it in brick stone or rubber. Under a tree or beside a building.
And natural is good when it comes to gardening. Does anyone recognize this tree. That s why the careful selection and placement of dry shade loving plants is critical for the tree s overall health. If you wanted to get creative you d plant impatiens begonias and maybe a few shade tolerant bulbs until the area became overrun with weeds the snails and slugs invaded or it started to look just plain bad.
Very few small plants other than moss grow around tree trunks in forests. You aren t a fool for wanting to put a garden beneath a mature tree. Be careful digging around the roots when planting under a tree. They thrive in the dappled shade under trees.
Most grow in clearings. Rhododendrons need shelter from winds and the sun and require little or no pruning. Shade garden plans beautify those spots as well as take the work and worry out your garden. Some trees such as beeches cherries plums dogwoods magnolias and maples have shallow roots barely below the soil surface and respond poorly wihen those roots are disturbed.
A shade garden plan can help utilize those shady spots in your yard. This is your go to plant. Life is not easy for plants under a mature shade tree. These shade gardens landscaping rewards with interesting foliage and distinctive color.
3 to 12 depending on the variety as long as the soil conditions are acidic and regular moisture is provided rhododendrons are the perfect shade loving flowering shrub for the mid story. Sensitive to summer irrigation fertilizers and root disturbance means creating a garden near an oak tree requires a delicate touch. When you plant under a tree you are doing something unnatural. Loving it in the shade by creating a round garden space under the tree this person has created the perfect place for plants that flourish in the shade.
Image courtesy of gardening lists. Note how the pavers match well with the natural rock wall surrounding the area.