Viewing post #462660 by stone

Frillylily said:How close can I plant under my trees? I have a sweet gum ( I think, those trees that get the little spiked balls on them, not a sycamore though), and a hemlock and some other tree I don't know what it is. They are planted kind of in a triangle, really too close to each other, maybe 15 foot apart. There is nice shade there and nothing is growing underneath, pretty dusty. I would like to circle the entire area with stones and fill it in with compost and plant hosta and then add some large accent rocks and maybe some azaleas. I am worried that adding compost over the roots will kill the trees. I am also concerned that the trees will just root right up into the new soil and choke out the new plants.
If I plant out toward the drip-line, there isn't any shade there. I though about planting larger shrubs and such that would better compete with the tree roots and then I wouldn't have to add soil, but could just pant them directly into what is there now. Can I plant hostas in pots and sink them under some mulch? I wonder if the potted hostas would survive the winter, zone 6a.
I just don't know anything about shade gardening much and working around trees. With my last house, we cut the trees down. But we just bought this place and moved and I don't want to cut the trees this time unless I have to. I do plan on living at this house long term though not just temporarily. I don't want to harm the trees, but I want a garden and I don't know how to do it!

I'm very sorry to hear about yall cutting down the trees at the last house!
Those trees increase the value of the property... and as long as you have native trees, rather than invasive exotics... they're definitely worth protecting!

I plant a lot of shade gardens, and the most important thing I can tell you is... don't harm the roots, and don't bring in soil... which may suffocate the roots, and kill the tree.

Having said the above... You can bring in a bit of compost or manure, and some wood chips. Spread over the bed... compost first.

Then... get out the soil detector...

While you can plant things in pots... and leave the pots on top of the soil... there's really no need to do so.

Shade plants evolved in concert with trees... they are unlikely to be bothered by the tree roots.

Rather than trying to plant the common stuff sold at the big box stores... I would be taking walks through the forest...(and visiting arboretums), and observing the types of plants that grow in similar conditions. Take pictures, post the pics at the plant id thread... after we id them, you can attempt to locate the desirable natives at a specialty nursery. There are plenty!
You'll end up with a unique garden that should be self-sustaining, and be the envy of the neighborhood!