I hate to break the bad news, but maples are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to garden under. Their mass of fibrous roots sucks all water and nutrients out of the soil. You can't build up new soil either--it will kill the tree if done over too great an area, and if done in small areas, the roots will invade the new soil in no time flat. Under the worst type of maples--Norway, for example--even grass won't grow.

Well is there something else I could do there? I don't know, put a boardwalk or something, grass?

Right now there are raspberries, delphiniums, anemone, bleeding hears, jacob's ladder and pansies growing under them along with tons of weeds.

Me.......... I wouldn't put anything except a thin layer of mulch or compost after I first moved, killed or cleaned out all the undergrowth that's there now. I think a clean slate would look best.

I agree about killing all the weeds first, and I agree gardening under or near maples is a challenge, but not impossible. Under several good sized sugar maples my epimedium flourish. I dug out space between some roots, added more soil, and planted smaller hostas there. They are doing well. Solomon's seal, both variegated and plain and small (humilus geranium maccrorizum "spessart" thrive near the maples. But I did build up a better layer of 'duff' by shredding leaves and leaving them there over a few seasons.

'Ego 45" who posts to shrub forum often, has some good sized viburnum under his maples. His technique was to add good soil between the three trees, and plant very small viburnums. He'd add some organic matter as the plants grew over the years and now they are 3 or 4 feet tall and blooming away. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it.

I know we are always warned about 'smothering' a trees roots , but really, I think the maples have extensive enough root systems that extend yards and yards from the trunk, and will survive a few inches of good soil on their roots near the trunk just fine. And the number of maple seedlings that drop, ensure their progeny for lifetimes to come.

Thanks for the replies. I agree with the comment about extensive roots systems. We've found roots about 50 feet from the trees.

It is true that planting under maples is very difficult. But it can be done with some plants, especially if you are willing to give them extra water, fertilizer, compost. And keep the maples limbed up.

I have succeeded under maples with--

hostas
variegated Japanese Solomon's seal
epimedium
Geranium maculatum, a hardy native geranium
pachysandra
impatiens

Two plants growing nearest to my maples - mockorange and symphoricarpus. I have to say they're a bit leggy.

Do a search....

I have these under my big maple: Lamium, Solomon's Seal, various hosta, Japanese Painted Fern, various Heuchera, hardy Geranium, various Astilbe, Creeping Jenny, Bugleweed, Bleeding Heart, dwarf Goatsbeard, Bloodroot, Lady's Mantle, Male Fern and Lady Fern. This is the third year and I'm really happy with the looks of everything. I water once a week with a good soaking - and I mean a good soaking!

oh yes, we have also limbed up the maples considerably. If you can't change their root system, you can alter how much shade they cast.

Several plants I've found resilient under my maple:

Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) - but be extremely careful as it spreads like mad
Scented geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum)
Various hostas
Dwarf bearded irises, surprisingly (Iris pumila)
Deadnettles (Lamium sp.) - we have both Beacon Silver and Pink Pewter, and Pink Pewter seems to hold up better under dry conditions
Lungwort (Pulmonaria angustifolia), but mine has taken a while to get decently established.

I don't quite believe in regular watering, so these plants have survived without supplemental water most of their lives. They've survived admirably; I think that they have a much better chance if they are started off smaller.

- Audric

A lot depends on what type of maples they are...do you know? Silver maples and Norway maples are almost impossible to garden under....very greedy root systems and very shallow. Over a year or two the plants will shrivel up as the moisture is robbed and the tree roots strangle the plantings. I have a very small area under a Norway maple(just 6 hostas and a few perennials) that I have to dig up every 2 yrs, break up the roots and replant in for the plants to survive. And you have 3 maples which is going to make it tougher. It's not impossible for some plants to do "OK" but they'll pale in comparison to plants away from trees.

i think they are sugar maples. i think i'm going to remove the straight edging that's there and put in a curved bed using that black roll edging and plant it with some of the flowers suggested (some of which are already there). I want to put one of those freestanding two person swings down there.just not sure how to place it yet.

I have a tiny front yard with a 100 year old Norway maple in the middle. Growing right up to the trunk are Woodland Sunflowers and Big leaved Asters. 10 feet from the trunk are daylilies and sedums plus a patch of the most beautiful Whitley's Speedwell - just finishing its springtime show now. The tree is obviously limbed way up (courtesy of the hydro company) and the shade is glorious in August. In a dry summer I'll water every 10-14 days - just enough for the perennial roots.

How about clearing out all the unwanted plants and weeds.
Digging several holes between some of the larger roots and planting Vinca Vine. Either the varigated or non variety. Both will not only survive but thrive. Vinca Is pretty invasive so you will have to keep in in check with your weedeater at the edge. It will give you the year round green look at the base of the tree.

I don't think vinca grows in my zone (3 but has been zone 4 temps for about 4 years now).