Creating beds under trees

10 years ago

I have a large oak in the front and a messy birch in the back. I would say that I would not be able to wrap my arms around either trunk to give an idea of their size. I wanted to create a bed under these trees and wanted to know how large I should make them.

The oak has a bed that extends out around 2 feet from the trunk so it make mowing difficult over the roots. How far out from the trunk should the bed extend?

I figure I would remove the grass (fescue) and lay down pine straw. Possibly some shade tolerant plants as well.

Thanks for your help.

Featured Answer

wisconsitom

10 years ago

Yes^. If you spread mulch materials, your pine straw, wood chips, etc. you will have no troubles. But if soil is part of the deal, you can suffocate tree roots very quickly that way. And no mulch material should ever be piled against the trunk of the tree.

But as far as "how big" type questions, that is strictly up to you. There is no absolute requirement that one do so-it's completely elective-so we can't give you dimensions. All that said, trees grow better where they do not have to compete with turf. That big tree might fool you into thinking it has the upper hand but it doesn't. Imagine a stand of thick turfgrass. The root system literally covers the entire area like a web. No tree, regardless how large, quite does that. So in the battle between thick turfgrass lawns and trees planted within those lawns, the turfgrass always has the upper hand. Is any of this getting any closer to the answer you need? To be quite honest, I'm not sure what the question is!

The shade-tolerant plants idea is a good one, especially if they be perennials. that way, you won't have to be repeatedly digging up the tree roots as you would if you had to plant annuals there every year.

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Comments (8)

edlincoln
10 years ago
Be very careful not to bury the trunk too deep or pile dirt around the trunk. That will kill the tree.
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krnuttle
10 years ago
My rule of thumb for the size of planting beds around trees is simple. If the grass will not grow, plant something. This will give you a lot of randomly shaped planting beds that add to the interest of your yard. In some of the large planting beds, I have actually added stone paths to make it easy to access all of the bed.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
do not till under such large trees ...

size is dependent on your vision of what you want.. imho ... rather than an issue for the tree ..

ken
laceyvail 6A, WV
10 years ago
A shade garden should be fine under the oak--its roots are deep. The Birch will probably be impossible--like trying to get stuff to grow under a maple.
cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
The bigger the bed the farther away from the tree you can plant your new additions, which means for far easier digging and less root disturbance.

Also be aware that those huge trees can be water hogs that suck up every drop you put down, so don't expect any smaller heavy drinkers to thrive unless it is near a hose and you don't mind watering often.
wisconsitom
10 years ago
All true. That said, of course this can be done. I'd work with perennial plants only, I'd look seriously at rhizomatus species-groundcovers and the like-so I don't have to dig things up so much, as in not at all eventually....that kind of thing. Dry shade is the bane of gardening everywhere but it's not impossible.
poaky1
10 years ago
I started a shade garden under my Chestnut oak, most of the perennials have done good, but, Chestnut oak is for dry soils in nature, but, I have watered the plants under it when there has been no rain for close to a week, and I am worried it will be too much water for the tree, but, so far so good. The only plant that hasn't pulled through is Cimifuga "Hillside black beauty". I planted it twice, and it must need more moisture or richer soil. I started this shade garden when the Chestnut oak Q. Prinus or Montana was really young, they grow fast in good moist soil. Anyhoo, good luck with the shade garden atl-sod