Re: growing plants under maple trees
- To: "ML-Perennials" <perennials@mallorn.com>
- Subject: Re: growing plants under maple trees
- From: "* C* <s*@qmail.newbridge.com>
- Date: 15 Jan 1998 08:58:43 -0400
Sheila Stewart[SMTP:sheila.stewart@mailexcite.com] wrote:
>
> I made flower beds around 5 separate maple trees. The first year was
> fine after using the tiller to loosen the soil. Now that the beds
> are established, the roots
> from the trees are right on top of the ground and the plants can't grow.
> I add compost
> every year but the higher the beds get the higher the roots grow. Are
> there plants
> I can use in these beds? I've read that you should never plant around a
> maple.
> Is this true? Would it be possible to dig the shallow roots out every
> spring and
> plant annuals without harming the maples? The purpose of the beds was
> to save the trees from my husband's weedeater.
>
> I made a bed around a sycamore at the same time and the plants are
> beautiful - some
> of my best looking dayliles and Sweet Williams are growing there.
>
> Sheila
A couple of suggestions for a shade loving ground covers with shallow roots
are Vinca Minor ("Periwinkle") and Ajuga Reptens (there are various different
cultivars). Both root from trailing stems and won't mind growing over a root
or two. Ajuga is a bit agressive, but any "overflow" can be easily ripped out
due to the shallow roots. I don't know where you are located, but both are
hardy in Zone 4.
You might also try some "pockets" of woodland natives like cornus canadensis
(bunchberry), bloodroot, trillium, dicentra (bleeding heart), and some small
Spring bulbs that will be happy with the early Spring sun before the maples
have leaves. Daylilies would be a nice touch too.
Be aware that the maples WILL suck a lot of water away from your flowers.
Also, I have heard that maples resent having the soil raised around their
roots (probably the reason for roots keep appearing problem) so you might want
to raise the soil line in stages - an inch or 2 each year.
As for the "don't plant around maples" worry, I sure hope it's not a problem.
I just created a new perennial bed last year around a maple sapling! The tree
will just have to cope!
-Sheila Craig
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