planting under cedar trees
miranda
Is it possible to grow grass or any sort of ground cover under cedar
trees? I have tried growing grass, to no avail, and understand
that that the needles from the tree in some way make the ground less
than conducive for growing, but is there *anything* that will grow?
Weeds seem to grow pretty well :-)
Thank you!!
miranda
Christopher Green
Cedars, like most conifers, present serious competition to anything
trying to grow under them. Even if you prune to keep the canopy
open, so that some sunlight gets through, the trees' root system
is competitive enough to starve out many underplantings.
In a war between a conifer and a lawn, the conifer will eventually
win. You will have better luck with underplantings that don't
mind the shade, root competition, and acidity from needle fall.
Ferns and azaleas are just about perfect for this purpose.
--
Chris Green
Advanced Technology Center
Laguna Hills, California
dd
<craz...@SPLEENhotmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Is it possible to grow grass or any sort of ground cover under cedar
> trees? I have tried growing grass, to no avail, and understand
> that that the needles from the tree in some way make the ground less
> than conducive for growing, but is there *anything* that will grow?
> Weeds seem to grow pretty well :-)
>
> Thank you!!
> miranda
Miranda,
I assume, when you say "Cedar" you mean plants in the genus Cedrus. Other
plants are known as Cedars (e.g. Port Orford Cedar, Chamaecyparis
lawsoniana), but the needle comments sounds like a Cedrus.
Grasses usually like quite a bit of light, and people often fail with
grasses due to the shade factor, and less because of needles, although
these can choke seedlings (although as trees go, Cedrus trees let in more
light than, say, a mulberry or a maple). Another issue, is the dryiness
factor. A big tree can suck the water under the dripline faster than newly
planted things can keep up, and the new plants lose ground and ultimately
die before they can get a foothold.
Is your heart really set on a lawn? How big is your tree (i.e. old enough
for people to walk under and hang out under? or still has most of the low
skirting branches?)?
Why don't you try other groundcovers? Some of them do remarkably well if
the shade isn't too deep, and will tolerate drought once established (you
do nee to supply that extra wee drink during the first few months). Ivy,
Aaron's Beard (aka St. John's Wort --- genus Hypericum), Vincas, Star
Jasmine, and Billardiera (a bit thin until well established) all seem to
do well in such an environment, provided you periodically use a blower to
settle needles down and keep them from smothering leaves.
Also, you need to give your location! It's really hard to give suggestions
when you could be anywhere from the Arctic Circle down to the tropics.
Cheers,
David Deutsch
Gondwana Gardens
http://www.gondwana.org