I think that the pines that I have my hosta gardens under are huge old white pines. (they have the short needles) They do get some competition from roots but they seem to be doing okay. It seems that they have taken a couple of years to get going (as compared to those planted in areas not with tree roots) but then they seem to have work it out with the tree roots and then they take right off. Just keep an eye on the hostas and if they start dwindling then move them to a different spot. It seems that some hostas have been more sensitive to the roots than others. I just always water the entire garden so the roots aren't drawn to the hostas.

As far as distance from the tree goes, I have them right next to the tree and extending out past the tree's canopy. The tree roots seem to reach past the canopy.

White pine may cause a slight increase in water but they give dense shade, I would limb up high maybe 20 ft to allow light in from the side. My experience is the plants come up late because of pine needle mulch which is a good thing.

Whatabout Jack Pine, Scotch Pine, Norway Pine and Black Pine? I have mine under all of those and smack up against most. On top of that, the trees are on a berm that's at least six feet high. I mean, is a pine a pine when it comes to Hostas? I do water the whole thing - not just the Hosta.

Westy

I agree with everything that flowersformyfarm said. I have two hosta beds under really big white pines and they do well. I posted some pictures under "Today was the day". As noted, they do need extra water and don't grow as quickly as others and I do have a couple that I need to dig up and check out because they seem smaller than in previous years. I too have them right up against the trunk of the trees. Plus, I never have any problems with slugs--just the pine cones falling.

Richard

I have grown hostas under white pines successfully. The best ones for me to grow under had no visible roots on the surface of the soil. As noted the slugs seemed to dislike the pine needles so less of a problem there. The shade was nice for the hostas and yes additional water is needed. I added soil and compost to the area before planting and didn't plant too closely to the tree trunk.

I planted hosta under my white pines 6 years ago for the first time. I started with placing them at the outer edge of the limbs and now they are under the trees a foot or more. I find that the growth rate varies from tree to tree!

The area between them and a cedar was turned into a huge hosta bed 3 years ago since grass had a hard time growing there anyway.(I have to talk about grass removel to my H many many times before he will relent and let me take it up.He loves that nasty green stuff more than me I sometimes think!) Like others I have had success with most hosta I planted there but not all. The pine needles are very soft so don't do damage to the hosta when they fall. I just use them under the pines not in the newer bed. That area has leaf mulch on it for the first time this year. I'm hoping it will help retain some of the moisture in the ground and not attract slugs.

So far so good.

Connie

"I'm hoping it will help retain some of the moisture in the ground and not attract slugs."
Connie

Mulch does not attract slugs; a food source attracts slugs unless something intervenes.

Galileo believed that the Sun revolved around the Earth the Pope did not, do you believe the Pope or me. Faith has started more wars than knowledge, quit hollering at me. All the neighbors think my name is "Where in the hell have you been".