What would you put around a tree?

My husband likes the lilly of the valley that is around one tree we have and wants to put more around another one and imbetween the 2 trees, but I don't really like it what is an easy perenial that grows well in the shade? he also wants to put something around all the trees so we don't have to mow as close what would be good around trees that get full sun? again I would prefer perenials or easy care annuals

Several of my neighbors have hosta ringing their trees; I think it looks pretty. Mostly the basic 'Lancifolia', but I like the kinds with variegated leaves too (don't know the specific name). Are you looking for ground cover (something that spreads) or something to be more contained and manicured-looking? And I imagine it might matter what kind of trees you have . . . maybe someone with more experience could comment on that. I have a privet hedge in my back yard and below it I have growing pachysandra, lily-of-the-valley and hosta. I also plant impatiens in there for some season-long color. I don't think it matters a whole lot if the tree itself gets full sun, because the tree will be shading whatever you plant underneath. As for easy-care shade-loving annuals, my favorite has to be impatiens. But I'm sure there are more creative options out there.

I did some plantings last year around my trees.I have been very pleased and plan to do so again this year. I have had Hostas around my very large pecan tree for a few years now.Before they got so large, I also put impatients in all the spaces It was really pretty.I had a smaller pecan tree where I put caladiums. The caladiums have really put on a great show. I wish they came back, but the don't in my zone. They still looked so pretty,that I have ordered a bunch more for this year. I put dwarf azaleas around one of my crepe myrtles. There are many combinations to consider. Good Luck

I have a crabapple tree on the right side of my house. In the spring...it's full sun. In the summer time...after the leaves come alive on the Big Oak Tree in the middle of the yard...it is part sun, part shade.

I have a circle of Red Tulips that bloom there during Spring. Not long after...the Hosta starts popping up. Right in the middle of the Hosta are some White Iris's. As soon as it's time I am going to add a circle of Red Celosia (annual) to that bed.

There are all kinds of things that you can plant. Please...share with pictures when you get your bed done!

Lisa

Yes hostas is a good choice. For one, they don't need to be divided to keep them healthy, like most plants need. Also they are very lush and do bloom in July. or August. There are many types with different leaf characteristics and height. I like the white and green variegated variety, which do not grow as tall as many of the green types.

Another variety is Heuchera (Coral Bells) These also come in different color leaves. A few with chocolate color. Have daisty bell shaped blooms high above the foliage during summer. Interplanted with Hostas would make quite a sight.

Bergenia cordifolia is one of my favorite shade plant with large leathery heart-shaped leaves. It blooms during spring.

Here is a variegated form of Hosta.

Heuchera 'Swirling Fantasy'

Begenia cordifolia 'Red Start'

I was thinking of trying some Sedum spurium "fulda glow" (creeping red sedum) around a small 4-5' pine thats in our yard with mostly shade (not from the small pine, but from an adjacent giant maple)

No experience, but perhaps an option.

physeekI have many varities of Sedums and they all need at least 1/2 day of sun or they grow straggly and won't bloom. They also need the soil to dry out somewhat between watering. I use to live in Long Island so familiar with your climate. You get lots of rain and anything growing under trees with shade would not have a chance to dry out for too long. Sedum would rot.

See my posts above. They would be more suitable for where you want to grow them. There are many other varieties of shade loving plants to choose from that would grow great for you.

I should have stated, that I was gonna try creeping red sedum at a different location. In Greenwood Lake, NY (zone 6) in a shaded, rocky and dry poor soil. Most of this "trial" creeping red sedum was for the backyard raised bed groundcover along with some creeping thyme and periwinkle. Using some extra sedum under the small pine front yard scenario, mentioned above. The internet site I was looking at was eburgess.com, and was hoping these would make it in mostly shade? The backyard definately does not get 1/2 day of sun. Front around the pine maybe some more sun than the backyard, but also probably not 1/2 day once the giant maples get their leaves.

This message was edited Apr 3, 2009 7:48 PM

This message was edited Apr 3, 2009 7:49 PM

I am in the middle of trying to remove a big patch of lilies of the valley without damaging the tree they grow under. The roots are very dense and it is a hek of a project. I asked my certified arborist if i can use round-up and he said he didn't think round-up will kill lilies of the valley and secondly would probably hurt the tree roots. Can't recommend lilies of the valley! They sprout late, the flowers are not particularly showy, and the foliage dies back somewhat early. Very very invasive, the roots went right under my brick edging. And if the roots intertwine with anything, you have a REAL PROBLEM.

In elementary school we were taught a beautiful little song about white choral bells, and somebody down the street from where I lived from ages 3 thru 8 had lilies of the valley behind her garage, so I am sentimental about them. They are so pretty, the song is so pretty, my childhood memories about them are precious. . . . BUT THERE IS NO PLACE IN MY YARD THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR LILIES OF THE VALLEY. Just so you know i actually start with a bias IN FAVOR of them. . .

Can't speak for whether Roundup will kill them or not, but if you are careful and only put it on the leaves of the LOV then it won't hurt your tree.

A true gardener and plant lover will not force a variety of plant to grow where the growing conditions isn't favorable to the plant. Instead, gardeners, choose plants suitable for what they have to offer. There are some things that will be tolerated, but too much shade for a sun-loving plant will not be. Likewise, too much moisture for drough resistant plants.

Hi ecrane,
I have an extremely knowledgeable Certified Arborist who has done work & consulting for me from time to time over a number of years. He came recently for some consulting. He looked at the area where I want the lilies of valley out, and said there are cases where a systemic herbicide can in fact damage intertwining tree roots, and that I do risk the tree by using Round-up. (And he added he wasn't sure that Round-up would kill the lilies of the valley, might kill the foliage but the roots would still be alive.) This guy is a gardening fanatic, and reads a lot, in addition to having the certification, so I place some credence in what he tells me.

Incidentally, he said the best way to lift the lilies of the valley is by using a high-pressure spray of water to separate the soil & LOV roots & tree roots. He does not own this piece of equipment as the cost is $2000. The hair-like roots of the tree would be damaged but would grow back. The tree's larger feeder roots would not be damaged, just the smallest ones which would grow back. But by digging, I risk damaging/removing all the feeder root system.

My cousin, in another state, has a masters degree in Forestry, and works as a consultant in the industry. He told me once that the Certified Arborist is not all that prestigious. . . . but the guy I use, as I said, is a fanatic about nature, trees, gardening, etc., so he is probably a step up from someone who merely gets the CA credential and then stops educating himself further.

What I decided to do is remove the lilies of the valley in phases, am tackling the first quadrant at this time, later this summer will increase the removal from one quadrant to one half, then next year I'll work on the other half. That's my tentative plan. That way if I take out the feeder roots, it'll only be 1/4 or 1/2 at one time, and hopefully the tree will not suffer die-off. (It's a very old Colorado spruce, not particularly lovely, but all in all the look of that part of the yard is improved by it being there.)

I have used Roundup to kill a tree once it was cut down. It was planted 2ft from the foundation. Also killed lilac bush that prevented me from using an outdoor path going from back to front of my yard. It was there when I bought the house. Some people don't think when they plant.

So if Roundup killed those, it would certainly kill Lily of the Valley. I had plantings around the tree and they weren't affected by the spraying of the tree. Roundup is taken in by the leaves and goes to the roots of the unwanted plant. It doesn't spread into the soil. I would certainly use a newspaper, or the like, to prevent sprays from hitting the tree or surrounding plants that you want to keep.

That Certified Arborist don't know what he is talking about when he stated that Roundup may kill the leaves but not the roots. Being a fanatic and reading means nothing. Experience does. It is the leaves that brings the Roundup down to the roots. I use it to kill dandelions, and that is a tough plant to get rid of.

I have lambs ear under a rather large hickory. Does quite well and spreading. If it grow in your area, just a thought.

Speaking of Round-Up watch out for the new product they are bragging up.....now prevents germination for up to six months. The portion of the product that does that will be far worse chemically than the Original Round-Up was in the first place.

A bed of Ivy is nice under the cover of a tree canopy. It can be confined by simple mowing.

I use Coleus on some of my jobs>

I used round-up on orange day-lilies and it didn't faze them, I think they grew better. We did some digging, but cutting them off anytime they grew finally did them in. They needed the leaves to live. We covered them after we cut them down with newspaper and mulch. If they pushed through, we cut them off again. I've used round-up with a paint brush (and rubber gloves) to carefully kill selected weeds with success instead of spraying. Pitch the brush when you are all done. Maybe that would work on the Lily of the Valley.

noQgardener. The hosta ides is a good choice and comes in shades of green, or varagated. A full sun under the tree choice might be Vinca Major (perrywinkel perrenannal ). I don't know if they do well in your zone, but they fit the bill for your sun and shade issues. Hosta shady, Vinca sunny. If your local nusery do not sell it , I't might not grow there. I worked at a nursery here years ago and people came down on vacation and bought plants to take home for thier yard, we told them they would freeze back home. Oh well expensive annuals, what A waste. Hope I could give you some help' but ask your local nusery most are pertty sharp folks.