Mid-Atlantic Gardening: August blooms, 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
I call this Maple-root infested bed mt "YUK" bed because it is impossible to even dig a hole in it--anywhere! I hope you know how the small feeder roots of Maples are everywhere! They suck up every drop of water and nutrients....It can pour rain--and in a couple days--they are bone dry.

Just as an example--that raised bed on the right used to be a regular bed. For years I grew all kinds of things in there--and then I bought these 2 whiskey barrels, put them over this bed, as it was getting too full of tree roots to deal with, and planted a bunch of stuff in them. Believe it or not---by the end of that same Summer, the Maple roots were so matted INSIDE the W.B's that I could not even dig a shovel in there. ALL through the ONE drain hole these barrels have!

Besides that--the Whiskey Barrels were deteriorating--falling apart--rotting....
I tried to remove them--slat by slat--the only way I could. The soil in them was totally a mess of maple roots. The ONLY way I could salvage what was planted in them was to ask my (then) husband to build a bed around them and fill it all in with dirt. He did so--with Landscape ties--about 5 logs high.

Since then--I have not really had any luck planting anything new that survived in this corner bed.
For me to even dig a hole large enough to plant a Perennial in--there will be a pile of the small, matted roots I have had to pull up--much to the damage to my back. It is almost impossible.
Yet--I plug away each year--and celebrate every tough plant that I manage to put in there and that thrives.....YES! This bed will be full of tough perennials one day--and I will not have to do anything more to it.

THAT is why I call it my "YUK" bed! I cannot physically deal with it any more--getting too old---and am trying to find plants that can survive in dry-harsh-cramped conditions. So far-so good!

I think all the plants that I mentioned above are the drought tolerant ones.....Bless them all!

Does this answer all your questions? You may look at a picture of this "YUK" bed and think---"Hmmmm! There's nothing wrong with it"!!! YES, THERE IS! IT IS "YUKKY"!

Gita

Here is another view of this corner bed from June, 2007. My other Maple (visible to the left) is a "Swamp" or "Red Maple". it is much smaller and "daintier". But the roots from this one are still all over the lawn to cause me pain if i step on them.....They are hidden under the grass--until I step on them and go "OUCH!!!!".....