Using Ground Covers Under Trees

Tired of trimming around your trees every time you mow?

If you have to spend a lot of time hand trimming around your deciduous trees after you mow, consider planting a low-maintenance ground cover under them. Spring or fall is a great time to tackle this project and you will reap the rewards every time you mow! Just follow the following simple steps:

1. Use a garden hose to outline the area under the tree that you will be planting and carefully remove the grass by hand or spray with RoundUp to kill the grass.
2. Starting 4-5 inches from the trunk, add 4-5 inches of good topsoil and then 2-3 inches of compost or other good organic material.
3. On top of this add (for every 100 square feet):
   •  Espoma Holly-tone: 4-7 lbs
   •  Espoma Triple Phosphate: 3-5 lbs
   •  Espoma Green sand: 5-10 lbs
4. Use a fork to mix all these amendments together well.
5. Rake the bed smooth, plant your ground cover, and then mulch three inches deep with a good quality mulch.
6. Water your new bed slowly and gently to put down 1½”  of water.

Great Plant Choices

There are many attractive perennial ground covers that compete well with tree roots and tolerate the dry shady conditions that exist in this little microclimate. For a beautiful evergreen ground cover, Vinca (periwinkle), Liriope, and Ajuga are always good choices, but consider using the dainty looking Epimedium varieties. Although they look extremely delicate, they are very hardy and prolific and create a beautiful ground cover.

The variegated foliage of Lamium, Lamiastrium, and Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' add wonderful texture and color under shade trees.

Even some of the shorter Hosta like 'Lemon Lime' and the blue-leaved 'Halcyon' or 'Blue Cadet' make great ground covers under trees or planted "en masse" in a shady woodland garden.