Planting under lilacs

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Countrymom Cuyahoga Falls, OH(Zone 5a) Sep 21, 2006

I have a 200 foot lilac hedge along my property line. It is beautiful in the spring. During the summer, the weeds grow underneath the lilacs. It is a miserable place to weed - limbs, spiders, etc.... Is there anything I can plant under the bushes that will thrive and cut down on weeds ? Would hosta grow there ?

Thanks.

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Sep 21, 2006

How about just putting down a thick layer of mulch? Growing hostas or something in there might be possible but the weeds are still going to come up in between.

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Countrymom Cuyahoga Falls, OH(Zone 5a) Sep 22, 2006

Thanks, ecrane3. I do put a thick layer of mulch on each fall. But as the summer wears on, the mulch turns into compost and the weeds grow like crazy. I do agee with you, though. No matter what could be planted, there will be weeds inbetween.

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White_Hydrangea Aurora, CO(Zone 5a) Sep 22, 2006

Lily-of-the-valley. They were hearty in Illinois, where I'm originally from. They'll probably be hearty in Ohio, too. And I've heard people complain that they grow so thick they crowd everything else out. They have pink ones, now, too. And the lily-of-the-valley/lilac fragrance will be heavenly.

We had LOTV beneath our lilacs back in Illinois. They both thrived quite well.

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Countrymom Cuyahoga Falls, OH(Zone 5a) Sep 22, 2006

Thanks, White_Hydrangea ! I know lily of the valley grows well here in Ohio.
I'm not sure it will stay green all summer. I have some on the hill, and it dies down about mid summer. Of course, the roots stay viable and maybe that would help choke out the weeds.

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Goldenberry Northeast, IL(Zone 5b) Sep 22, 2006

Lily of the valley growing in shade should stay green, if mine is any indication. There was a big area of it in our back yard that was dug out about 8 years ago during a landscaping project. To my great surprise, it re-appeared last summer under our serviceberries, and is now in the process of crowding out the astilbe and daylilies. So hopefully it will crowd out the weeds too!

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Countrymom Cuyahoga Falls, OH(Zone 5a) Sep 22, 2006

Thanks, Goldenberry. The lily of the valley I have is on a hill in the sunshine. Maybe that is why it dies down each summer. I'll start transplanting it under the lilacs next spring.

Thanks everyone !

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