Re: plants under pines
- Subject: Re: plants under pines
- From: T* &* M* R*
- Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 09:30:32 +1300
steve french wrote:
>
> Dear List,
>
> I have recently moved to a new house here in Sebastopol, California. Along
> one property line there is a row of tall Monterey Pines, Pinus radiata. I
> would like to plant a row of large shrubs near the base of the pines as a
> visual screen of my neighbors driveway and parking.
>
> I was thinking of planting Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia, but I'm
> wondering how they would do under the drip line of tall Pines. There is
> afternoon sun, just a layer of pine needles and the morning shade of the
> trees.
>
> Does anyone have experience of growing plants under pines?
>
Steve
As these plants are both native to the area, I suppose they might manage
to coexist, but in my experience very little grows happily under
established Pinus radiata. I think conifers in general take an awful lot
of light, moisture and food which would prevent almost any other sort of
plant establishing itself inside their zone of influence, particularly
once the trees are already grown.
However doubtless locals will be able to give you more definite
information.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand, SW Pacific. 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Time
