Ground cover for under large maple that hogs the biweekly water

[Susan of Brookwood 0]

I have a large Maple that is critical to shading the deck. The ground below is quite filled with roots that hog all the regular watering. The area gets part sun (west) in the afternoon. Grass under the tree (about 500 sq ft) not an option because the soil pH is high and the amendments we add (drills) destroy the grass. I do have a 6" trench dug around the outer perimeter (per Janet M's suggestion) that will hopefully prevent ground cover from growing into the outlying lawn. We do have bold deer.

 

Vinca minor failed horribly. Contemplating Ajuga Chocolate Chip. Wondering if anyone has suggestions, experience with the ajuga, etc.

 

Thanks for any suggestions!

[Karen Bovio 3]

My experience with the newer cultivars of Ajuga is that they need quite a bit of sun. The very old- fashioned ones (smaller leaves, green or bronze, running not clumping habit) can thrive in shade. But they also like some moisture. I do not consider Ajuga a drought tolerant ground cover. I think Lamium or Lamiastrum might be better choices. Lamiastrum (Yellow Archangel) is so vigorous it will grow anywhere including dense shade. It can be invasive, so you will need to cut it back ocassionally to keep it in bounds. Lamium is less aggressive, and tolerates dry shade. If too shady though, it will thin out over time.

[Ester 4]

Sound like a good area for container gardening. Maples are famous for dense shallow root masses. I would suggest you would be fighting a losing battle to try to cultivate that area. Much easier to be successful with pots for begonias, impatiens, and other showy shade plants.

[Susan of Brookwood 0]

Many thanks, Karen and Esther. Cannot do pots -- the area is too large -- but normally that would be a great idea. I'm going to look for the Lamium -- thinking of Purple Dragon -- to try and see how it does. Again, appreciate your information. Susan of Brookwood

[Gail Morrell 1]

I've used sedum kamtschaticum under a large maple in the space between the curb and sidewalk. We tried ivy but I don't think there was enough moisture. I thought it would be too shady for the sedum but it has done great (3 years). Actually I brought pieces that I had removed from another area, set it on the ground and put a thin layer of soil on top. We watered to get it started but then let nature handle it. It has done very well. No digging in those massive roots either.

[Susan of Brookwood 0]

Susan here again. Wow, I never would have thought of sedum -- which might work well as the west side of the area gets a lot of later afternoon sun. Will seriously consider this. Many thanks!

[Michele A 2]

I have lillies of the valley growing under my maple and around the deck. But egads are they thugs.

[Laura 0]

I have the same situation under a maple with west sun and dry soil in summer. I like the idea of sedum and will keep that in mind but I want to try common coral bells this year. I hope they will do well once established. I have them in another dry, low light area and they are doing well.

[Janet Macunovich 32]

Not easy to find but in the shade of trees where it's dry we have very good luck with Tellima grandiflora. (Is there a common name for this uncommon plant? Fringe cups or something?) Also the much more available Asian variegated Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum variegatum) and bigleaf forget-me-not (Brunnera macrophylla). And the not-so-available native false Solomon's seal (Smilacina racemosa).

 

But if that's a Norway maple (Acer platanoides) we say, 'good luck and draw the design to deliberately employ bare space', because so many plants do not like growing with Norway maple roots. That species is probably an allelopath, like black walnut.

 

The containers are a good idea. We do it with large diameter pieces of pvc pipe, bottomless, set where we want to grow. We can paint them any color. We fill them with soil/soil mix and every few years knock them over, cut the tree roots that have grown up in them (these are annual roots, not flare roots and can be cut without real concern), refill them with fresh soil and put the plants back in.

 

This is a space under a silver maple where we used both space and containers. The pvc is painted black -- t's 3 "pipes", one 30" tall, all of them 12" in diameter. $1 per foot in 10' sections at a plumbing contractor supply.

[gonative 1]

I second Janet's suggestions of the native False Solomon's Seal & non-native solomon's seal. Also, P. biflorum the native version of Solomon's Seal grows in very deep shade. I have seen it in groves of yucky Buckthorn where the shade was so dense little else was growing.

 

I think another good one for heavy dry shade is Pennsylvania Sedge, Carex pennsylvanica. You can start it as small plugs and just tuck in where you have an inch or two of soil. Most sedges prefer moist soil but this one prefers it on the dry side.

 

Tellima grandiflora, I have that one too although I have never seen it for sale on the retail side. I don't think it has a common name. But I just love this plant. I did some research once and discovered it was native to the Northwest. It is in the same family as Foamflower and Mitella which strangely enough even though they are native to the midwest are a little more touchy with regard to conditions; they definately don't like dry shade or really high pH.

 

The Tellima I got at a plant swap. The gal that gave it to me started a whole flat from seed she had started. Mine started as a little 1 inch plug. Other folks that received some also had good luck including my friend that I later gave a division to from my original clump which was full size the second season after I planted it is a plug.

[Karen Bovio 3]

I have a huge norway maple and have had Euonymus coloratus (or something quite similar - it never gets shrubby or upright) growing under it. It has been successful there, in dense dry shade, for 20 years! You can usually buy ground cover Euonymus by the flat at nurseries, and of course it is VERY easy to propagate on your own. Cuttings are very easy to root, so with a season's head-start you could accomplish the project very inexpensively.

[Wilkie 0]

My remarks are identical to Gail Morrell's. I have a Silver Maple between the street and the sidewalk. I have lived in our home since 1970 (42 years) and during that time the roots are ungainly. I took sedum from other parts of my garden with a layer of soil and compost sprinkled over the plugs. I am surprised to this day how it took over and looks very nice in the summer. The drawback in the winter is that it goes dormant and there is no color -- just a black mound of nothing which, in my opinion, is ugly.

[Susan of Brookwood 0]

Just wanted to thank all of you for your ideas and great suggestions. May have to combine some groundcover with containers, as Janet's photo of this approach under a tree was just stunning. Love the plants and the PCV planters. In fact, since this is right off my deck, it may be the perfect place to include a 'fairie garden' for my granddaughters. Very much appreciate everyone's time! Janet --- am sending in my sponsorship pledge for the forum pages -- this is such a helpful service! Susan