Re: shade tolerance
- Subject: Re: shade tolerance
- From: B* T*
- Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 15:22:09 -0400
Marge,
Indeed, this area is pretty dark in places! Because it used to be
completely filled with multiflora roses going 30+ feet into the trees,
few of the trees have low branches. It does make for a beautiful shade
canopy but a daunting landscaping task. We took out 3 trees this weekend
and now it's more ** whoopie!** dappled shade than deep shade. This
shady area is on a slope so standing at the top of it, everything looks
nice with the plants facing uphill and towards the light. From below...
a totally different story.
The trees are mostly weeds (like wild black cherries), so it doesn't hurt
at all to take them out. Need be, we'll do more.
Thanks!
Barb
(southeastern PA, zone 6/7)
Marge Talt wrote:
> I agree with Anne...sounds like you need to do branch work on your
> trees. If you make sure that the lowest branches are at least 15'
> off the ground (well, except for some plants that need a weeping type
> form) everything will do better. You don't actually have to thin out
> branches if you make sure they're high off the ground. Well, better
> hedge that a bit, too. If your trees form a totally interlocking
> canopy, through which no sun rays fall at all, then some thinning
> would be in order. Perhaps even thinning out of a tree or two.
>
> Most rhodies, in particular, need some sun or very good light to
> bloom well. If your ferns and hydrangeas are leaning, your back 40
> is pretty dark:-)
>
> Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
> mtalt@clark.net
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> ----------
> > From: Barbara Tilton <tilton44@erols.com>
> >
> > Ok, they say "it's better to ask a stupid question than fix a dumb
> > problem", so here goes...
> >
> > Several of the "shade tolerant" plants we've put in our wooded
> back-40
> > are leaning towards the available sunlight (includes Japanese
> painted
> > ferns, variegated hydrangea and rhodo's). Will they ever do well
> in
> > these sites or should I move them now (or thin out some of the tree
> > branches)?
> > TIA
> > Barb (southeastern PA)
>
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