Almost every garden has trees, fruit trees, or creating shade for a comfortable pastime in hot weather. At the same time, places under their crowns cause a lot of inconvenience to the owner of the site, because conditions under the tree are difficult for other vegetation.
This territory cannot be used in the same way as the land allocated for garden bed or flower bed in a sunny place, and involuntarily the question arises of what to plant under the trees.
Content:
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Introduction
The most successful solution would be to plant plants that tolerate the 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.
An example of a flower bed under a tree
Ordinary flowers or grass are not suitable for planting under trees: they will be pale and lethargic, or even completely wither. Therefore, it is worth choosing plants adapted to such conditions. You can also solve the problem by mulching or powdering the tree roots with gravel.
When choosing plant crops for planting under a tree, you should pay attention to what degree of illumination the planted area has:
- penumbra: the sun illuminates the area only in the morning or evening, for 4-6 hours a day
- shadow: direct sunlight does not reach the site, it is illuminated for about an hour with diffused sunlight
- deep shadow: sunlight does not penetrate at all
Such an analysis will help to select plants in accordance with the conditions of the place of future growth. For areas in partial shade, flowers and shrubs are suitable, for which light is not critical, or they easily tolerate a small amount of it. But in the shade it is better to plant shade-tolerant crops that will give abundant greenery and bloom even in the absence of light.
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Fruit and other trees always have a strong influence on the conditions for the plants growing next to them. Young trees take away all the nutrients for themselves, drying up the soil around. Large trees create a powerful shadow.
Without letting in sunlight. Thus, the tree occupies not only the area on which it grows, but also significantly affects plants located at a distance of up to ten meters from it.
The crown of the apple tree lets in a lot of light
To cope with the situation, when planting plants under the crown of trees, it is necessary to remember such a characteristic as the climate of the near-stem region of the undercrown area. This will help to correctly assess the characteristics of the soil and not miscalculate the purchase of flowers. After all, it would be very annoying if all seedling will fade in a week.
Below are brief characteristics of the climate under the crown, depending on which tree the plants will be planted under:
- crown apple trees 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
- spruce has a large dense shadow, and it almost does not let water through. Even in the rain under the spruce can be dry. 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 it is.
- crown pines lets in a lot of light, but its needles make the soil rather acidic
- bird cherry creates a loose shadow, but greatly dries the soil, taking life-giving moisture from plants growing at its foot
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Alternatives
In addition to planting flowers and shrubs, the area under the trees can be used to create space for recreation and install a gazebo. This is a particularly good option in the case of planting conifers that do not tolerate "neighbors from below", as well as other trees that create unfavorable conditions for basal vegetation.
Sodding
Grass on the trunk lawn looks just fine
Sodding or grassing is the simplest, as well as a beautiful and budgetary way to arrange a plot under a tree. With the right laying of the near-stem lawn, you can not only create an excellent place for gazebos, but also to solve a set of other problems:
- improve the general condition of the soil
- reduce soil salinity
- rid trees of chlorosis
- improve fruit quality
- prevent soil from drying out
- protect roots from damage during tillage
Especially well on the near-trunk lawn looks low grass of a bright green hue, for example, shoot-bearing bentgrass. She looks very juicy and well-groomed. White clover, meadow clover, sheep or red fescue, meadow bluegrass and perennial ryegrass are also suitable.
Mulching
Under natural conditions, mulch is continuously formed in the root zone of a tree. Mulch is a covering made from natural materials that retains moisture and inhibits weed growth.
Mulching the trunk circle
- erosion
- washout
- freezing
An important criterion when choosing a material for mulching is the ability to pass air to the stem, root collar, and tree roots. Also, the mulch should not prevent the release of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from the soil.
Mulching trees: different options
For mulching, both organic and inorganic materials can be used:
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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: it is among them that most shade-loving species prefer places that are closed 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 naturally grow in the forest, therefore, for rapid growth and rich flowering, they need fertile soil with a high content of humus. Such soil quickly absorbs and retains water well, well ventilated.
Since the soil in the garden bears little resemblance to the forest, one cannot do without the use of fertilizers that will enrich it with the substances necessary for the growth of forest flowers. Compost is best for this purpose. Compost is laid out in a layer 5 cm thick, and then gently mixed with the top layer of soil. Every year in autumn and spring, add 2-3 cm of fresh compost layer.
Leaves falling from trees can also be used to increase soil fertility. They are covered with perennials to protect from frost, and in the spring they are transferred to the compost heap, where they will turn into fertilizer.
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What flowers and plants are suitable for planting?
Below is a short list of flowers that will thrive in the shade of trees.
Periwinkle
Periwinkle is an evergreen shrub that reaches a height of 15 cm.. It refers to forest plants that prefer beech, oak and sometimes pine forests, as well as thickets of shrubs. 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 in moderate soil moisture. Periwinkle is often found on gravelly and rocky slopes, so in the garden it will thrive near the mulch of stone or rubble.
Soil and care
The plant belongs to shade-tolerant species, grows poorly in the sun, but the best option for it is moderate darkening. This is an excellent option for planting in open ground, as it tolerates frost, is resistant to bad weather and is unpretentious in care.
Periwinkle is also undemanding to the 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 pleases the eye with its flowering throughout spring and summer. The flowers are small and have a delicate purple hue. Periwinkle does not suffer from severe shading, 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.
tenacious creeping
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 disposition: the tenacious feels comfortable in almost any conditions.
It easily survives drought, grows both on fertile soil and on rocky soil. In nature, it is often found in deciduous forests and in the shade of dense shrubs. Therefore, under a tree in the garden will feel like home.
The plant prefers soil with a high content of limestone. This is a great option for a tree growing on a slope. The tenacious creeping will not only decorate the root zone, but also prevent soil erosion.
The creeping tenacious has soft, shortly pubescent leaves, and in May and June it pleases gardeners with flowers of blue and purple. To date, 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 various shades were obtained.
The main differences between species from each other are:
- plant height
- leaf shape
- flowering time
- flower buds
- the presence of a pattern on the leaves
For example, view Burgundy Glow has multi-colored leaves that change color depending on the type of soil and the level of illumination of the place. Leaves can be brownish, lilac, and also red. Such a rich color palette creates a flower carpet of stunning beauty. This variety thrives in the shade of shrubs and trees.
Another variety of tenacious creeping, impressive in its beauty, is Multicolor. Its purple leaves have red, yellow and orange patches. Depending on the lighting, the greenery takes on one shade or another, creating a rich texture of the green carpet.
Landing and care
In order for the survivor to feel comfortable and delight 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 propagates by seeds or by dividing the bushes. But for a successful landing, you first need to prepare the soil under the tree.
It should be a moderately dark place, best of all, loam with a high content of humus. Seeds are sown in pre-prepared holes and gently sprinkled with earth.
Laminaria speckled
Spotted lamb (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 homeland of the cassava.
The plant has many species, some of which are weeds. But a number of varieties are successfully used in landscape design, for example, spotted or spotted lamb.
With the help of a clear-cut, you can create a beautiful flowering carpet at the foot of the trees. Its hollow stems spread along the ground, rooting at the nodes. She has heart-shaped leaves with notches and pink or purple inflorescences. Laminaria speckled blooms from July to August.
Landing and care
Planting a speckled lamb should be in shaded places with a sufficient level of humidity. Under the crown of a tree, she will feel as comfortable as possible, but during dry periods she may require watering. It is best to plant the plant on the western or eastern side of the garden plot.
There are no requirements for the composition of the soil, the main thing is that it be loose and with good drainage system. If the soil is rich in nutrients, then the lamb grows into a lush carpet, but its decorative properties deteriorate. Therefore, do not abuse with top dressing.
Pachysandra apical
Pachysandra apical (Latin name Pachysandra terminalis) is a low shrub 30 cm tall with dark green shiny leaves. Pakhisandra belongs to the evergreen plants of the boxwood family, which has a highly developed rhizome.
In total, there are four species in the pachysandra genus, three of them originally grew in East Asia, and one in North America.
Appearance
Pachysandra apical is an ornamental plant that is used in landscape design. A semi-shrub with non-woody shoots spreads along the ground, creating a dense cover in the shade of a tree that does not change its appearance during the year.
This is a great option for decorating a garden plot in a region with a warm climate. In May-June, its greenish-white flowers bloom, which give additional elegance to the plant.
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 on the middle one, and young fresh shoots on the upper one.
growing conditions
This plant needs frost protection, especially if there is little snow, and additional watering will be required during dry periods. The plant easily tolerates frost up to 30 degrees, but does not like the wind. Pachysandra apical does not tolerate direct sunlight, it is best for her in the shade. In the bright sun, its leaves become faded and inconspicuous.
In the process of rooting, the plant needs moderate watering, and then is content with natural moisture due to rainfall and groundwater. Pachyzadra prefers turfy or leafy soil mixed with sand. Top dressing is not required, as well as loosening. Diseases and pests bypass this plant.
biennials
Despite the great popularity of perennials that do not need to be renewed every year, biennials are also popular with gardeners. After all, sometimes you want diversity, and not to contemplate the same flower bed year after year.
Pansies
The most popular biennial is Pansies. The plant has many varieties, each of which has beautiful inflorescences of a bright shade. You can choose one color, or sow several species at once to create a motley flower carpet.
The appearance of these flowers is especially impressive in spring, when they bloom in the shade of trees in juicy spots. The second name of Pansies is viola.
These flowers have long been a favorite plant of gardeners, who have 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, get along well in the neighborhood with many other flowers: daffodils, tulips. Hybrid varieties bred by breeders perfectly tolerate both frost and cold.
Therefore, they can be planted spring. Both summer and autumn. In addition, they are extremely unpretentious, and bloom richly even in the most modest conditions.
forget-me-nots
Another option for the luxurious design 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 lung 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 the gardens of many countries of the world.
Care
Forget-me-nots do not require special care, they grow well in the shade and on infertile soil. They grow best in fresh soil, with sufficient but moderate moisture. Forget-me-nots bloom starts in May and continues 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, for additional darkening, they are planted in combination with a fern.
Plants for tall trees
In the shade of tall trees, low shrubs and flowers with tall inflorescences look great. If in combination with young trees they are lost, then the tall large trunk of an adult tree will look quite impressive against their background.
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. With sufficient soil moisture, the host will delight the eye with magnificent foliage. In addition, it goes well with other annuals and perennials.
Volzhanka common
Volzhanka ordinary (Latin name Aruncus dioicus) reaches a height of 150 cm. This is a perennial shrub with delicate feathery leaves. The plant has paniculate inflorescences of small white and greenish flowers.
Volzhanka ordinary blooms from June to July. The only significant disadvantage of the shrub is drought intolerance; watering will have to be carefully monitored.
ferns
Fern is a great option for decorating the area under the trees. There are many varieties of this plant, but for areas with silt blackout, the male shieldwort (Dryopteris filix-mas) is best suited.
He needs moist soil with a high content of humus.
Viburnum ordinary
Kalina feels great in the shade. This is a tree of small height, which reaches about 90 cm. In spring, viburnum pleases with its small flowers, and in autumn with beautiful berries.
It can also be used as a hedge.
Hydrangea paniculata
Hydrangea paniculata will feel great in places. Where the light penetrates only after dinner. Its inflorescences in the form of fluffy panicles bloom quite high above the ground.
At first they are white, and then, when ripe, they become first pink, and then bright pink.
Red and black currant
Both red and black currants are very fond of moisture, so they are afraid of strong sun and feel comfortable in the shade of tall trees. Worth keeping in mind.
That when planted in the shade, the berries on the bushes will ripen more slowly.
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
Under natural conditions, the game grows under the canopy of the forest, 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 (Latin name Hedera helix) is an evergreen climbing shrub whose shoots reach a length of 30 m. It grows well under the shade of trees with sufficient moisture.
Its shoots can be wrapped around a tree trunk for a more aesthetic look.
European hoof
European hoof (Latin name Asarum europaeum) refers to perennial plants and reaches 10 cm in height.
The plant owes its name to its dark green, hoof-shaped leaves.
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In the shade of trees you can grow greens and root crops
If on a spacious plot can be placed under a tree gazebo or a lawn, then in a limited space, every piece of land counts. The way out of the situation can be planting vegetables and herbs in the shade of trees, which are not demanding on the amount of sunlight.
So you can not only decorate the root zone around the tree, but also harvest root crops, greenery and other horticultural crops.
But, before planting a garden under a tree, you need to take into account a number of nuances:
If the gardener nevertheless decided to plant beds under a tree, you should pay attention to the following crops:
- perennial onion: in addition to greenery, it can bloom beautifully. For example, chives have huge lilac caps. Just like 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
- beet in the shade it only gets sweeter, but the roots will be small
- borage grows best in conditions of heavy shade. Cucumber grass is not afraid of spring cold snaps and does not require special care
Summing up, it can be noted that the shade of the trees is not at all a reason to refuse flowering greenery under the crowns. There are many flowers and shrubs that thrive under the protection of the tree crown. The main thing is not to forget about moisture and provide enough nutrients by fertilizing the soil regularly. compost.
Should I plant flowers or vegetables under trees?
What to plant under the trees: flowers, plants or vegetables? In the garden or garden in the shade (40+ Photos & Videos) + Reviews
