I haven't tried digging yet because I believe I will need an auger or I am considering grinding the river birch’s roots along the side of the deck. I read that you could safely remove 20% of a tree's total root zone. However I’ve never grinded surface roots & guessing I would have to rent machinery or pay a tree company to do it. I also worry how much it could damage the tree.

That sounds like a major PITA project to me. And you might end up killing the tree in the end.

I believe I’d install a good looking lattice and call it a day.

Exactly why I am asking. We entertain a lot & the deck is where people mostly end up hanging out which is why I wanted to incorporate plantings. I don’t mind doing work. Just want to do it correctly & if it makes sense

Birches are as bad if not worse than maples as far as root competition goes. You might get a tough groundcover established, maybe Liriope spicata, but forget anything else.

its doable .... but there might be various issues ...

first ... digging holes... IF you insist on some straight line or some such ... if you dig ..and find a root.. move over a few inches or whatever ... until you find a place that you can dig .... not really a big deal.. unless your goal is some sort of military like lines of precisely spaced plants ...

second.. water competition until fully established might also be troublesome.. but easily overcome with a hose.. and some time spent making sure the new transplants can enough water to get established ... and to be sure... lawn irrigation will most likely not be enough water ... after 2 or 3 years... they could probably be free range ....

third ... choice of the right plants ... and i dont know if you choices are right.. i will leave that to others ...

4th ... i dont really understand the whole lattice idea ... why put it up.. if you are going to immediately plant things to hide it.. what am i missing ..???

i dont see where you are ... might matter .... big city name good enough ...

every root you cut ... will respond with new.. usually more aggressive new root growth ... work around what is there.. do not try removing them... or grinding them.. nor tilling them ... or in tree time.. say 5 years... it will be worse than ever ...

last thing.. what is your soil type ... in clay ... auguring can be very problematic .... we can discuss... if this is relevant ...

btw ... how big of plants are you thinking of planting .... DIY or installed???

ken

I like the idea of potted plants if you must cover the lattice. Many perennials, hostas, and some shrubs can exist in pots. It seems to be a matter of pot size and how to winter them through if you are in a cold climate. I defer expertise to others in those matters. Good luck with you decision!

I can't judge from the pictures how close this tree is to the deck. Do you have the (mis) understanding that a tree's root system is concentrated to the area directly under the canopy? Was the house built first or did this tree already exist on the property?

Since we cannot see the whole tree from your images, let me ask you if the tree is an important element to your property. Does it add aesthetic value? Would you miss it if it were gone? I personally feel that healthy, interesting trees add more to the property value than any other element of the landscape.

I also feel that if the lattice is done purposefully then it doesn't need to be hidden, disguised, or covered. I would select an attractive lattice pattern and allow it to be an added design element to your home. Covering with plants won't be necessary.

I don't like the idea of containers at all. They would look sloppy. By all means, have a few gorgeous seasonal containers on your deck.

I gardened for years under a river birch beside my deck.

1) River birch very very untidy, always fallen debris.

2) Roots came more and more into the nice planting area with received additional water (because tree roots would sap it dry quickly), thus becoming a less and less desirable planting area.

3) Some woodland plants excelled in this area, it was exactly what they wanted. Hellebores and emphemerals (trillium, bloodroot, wild ginger) loved it. The lightly filtered shade worked really well with the hellebores.

However, if you want color all year, then cut down the river birch (lol)..and your deck will be so much cleaner. I don't believe your shrub idea will look less than sickly under the river birch.

Maybe you haven’t seen any lattice treatments that are attractive and therefore don’t need hiding. Google lattice images.

What about Planting a climbing or trailing plants that could be woven into the lattice or would naturally attach itself with gentle guidance. There are also trellis type roses which could possibly work. Just another idea!

Debra

here is an option i ran across while surfing the web

https://www.instanthedge.com/

Sometimes you can plant stuff in those conditions, you will have to dig in and investigate if there are any open pockets. Plants like sea oats, Bigroot geranium and Solomon’s seal seem to cope ok with root competition. You will probably have to start with small plants that can nearly fend for themselves right off the bat,

I’ve planted a variety of shrubs and perennials under my maple.... so it is possible. I just went around surface roots, sawed through some, and loped many others.

maple to left

Further down

With all the planting near by, I’m guessing that’s what has made him such an old pout Puss...lol

GardenHo_MI_Z5 , I have a sycamore tree with surface roots. It is about 28' from a new construction garage (white and brick in the pic). Though I will not achieve your beautiful plantings, I do want to grow some hostas and other plantings in a slightly raised bed near the garage. Do you think I would be successful? Any tips about what to start with this first year and how to go about it would be appreciated!

"I ... really want to hide the lattice." But why? Lattice is usually the "screening" used to hide, or at least temper, the look of other things. Must it be screened because one is using the cheap, ugly, ready-made stuff? Why not create some nice looking lattice to begin with?

It might be better than installing something you don't like the looks of, covering it up and returning next year to install some more lattice to hide the unhappy looking shrubs!

welcome wanda.. perhaps you should have started your own new post ... then at least.. replies could be set to come to your email...

anyway ....

im not rereading all the above.. but the first thing that pops into my mind.. is that a mature tree has put it roots at the surface.. because that is favorable to the tree .... adding a little soil above those roots.. is only going to encourage those roots to resurface again ... though i tree time.. it will be a very long time before you see big roots there ... but you might start seeing fine feeders roots.. faster than you might imagine.. a year or two in tree time ....

and every time you dig a hole below the new soil ... and into those roots.. the tree will respond by putting new feeder roots into the new and fresh soil ... not to mention those roots cut due to the garage construction ...

should you try it.. of course ...perhaps it will work ...and even if in a few years.. the plants seem to be struggling.. you can always move them somewhere else ...

hosta are water hogs.. and if you ever start noticing.. them wilting... and you just cant seem to water enough ... then you have tree root problems... but there are many other things that will grow there.. [and dont stain that brick works with ugly water ... the plants arent worth it...]

ken

btw: i would make the bed as wide as the brick work.... i think it would add some symmetry ... it would look pleasing to the eye ... rather than a 2 or 3 foot ribbon of soil ...