Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1
Member
Member
Offline
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1
I love to plant but I feel like my yard is whipping my tail every year!! We have SEVERAL larger pin oaks directly in front of our house. They provide much needed shade in summer as the sun rises in front of our house however, they make making the front of my yard beautiful.... DIFFICULT! One end of the bed gets hit by the hot afternoon sun and a couple of "shine thru" spots where branches don't cover the afternoon spots right there. I would really appreciate your expert advice!! I am in Georgia zone 7B.

I have a rock bordered (what I wanted to be a beautiful) flower bed around the edge of this tree clump. Roughly about a 10w x 30l area. There are 4 pin oaks of good size inside this area. There is also a privet hedge- that my husband tells me we need to get rid of but I don't because 1) it smells heavenly when it blooms & 2) I'm afraid nothing else will ever grow and at least it's something green in there!! about 4 feet outside and our mammoth beauty about 15 feet away & this one is so big it alone can shade the front of our house until noon sun. So- I have a lot of trees... And a LOT OF ROOTS especially inside the rock flower bed. I planted a few irises on t he border, some lamb's ear inside, two azaleas, some monkey grass...these things grow-- but they don't--- GROW. I WOULD LOVE To fill in this space more and give more color/depth to this space. Not to mention the curb appeal it would offer... Can anyone offer me ideas on what I can get to grow happily in a space where trees are the boss. I know they are probably taking much of the nutrients the plants need it but cutting them is just not an option. I am open to all ideas-- shrubs, plants, flowers, whatever will fill in all this empty space. I would prefer perineal a but don't mind planting accenting annuals.

Your help is more appreciated that you know!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 18,835
Likes: 32
Patriot
10k Posts
Patriot
10k Posts
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 18,835
Likes: 32
My daughter lives in GA where it can be so hot it sucks the breath out of your lungs and hardly ever rains and she's planted knock out roses in sun and shade and has had great luck. She only watered them when she first put them in and prunes them as needed. She's also had great luck with purple wandering jew and lantana. Her lantana gets gigantic and returns every year. In NC, where I live, lantana is an annual. Good luck.



Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,363
Daisy
4k Posts
Daisy
4k Posts
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,363
I did shasta daisy under my pecan tree and they bloom out before the leaves do. Really pretty


[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

I try to take one day at a time -- but sometimes several days attack me at once.
-Jennifer Unlimited-
Yard Update -April 2012
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 30,648
Likes: 61
Northern Star
30k Posts
Northern Star
30k Posts
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 30,648
Likes: 61
Variagated hostas would be beautiful as well.


~~Tam~ You can bury all your troubles by digging in the dirt.
[Linked Image from agardenersforum.com]
[Linked Image from agardenersforum.com]
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 47,072
Likes: 34
Frogger
40k Posts
Frogger
40k Posts
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 47,072
Likes: 34
why not try some Columbine--as long as you put them in the shaded areas.


[Linked Image from agardenersforum.com]
[Linked Image from agardenersforum.com]
________



Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!! .....
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,160
Official Taste Tester
10k Posts
Official Taste Tester
10k Posts
Offline
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,160
Having learned this by experience don't overcrowd your plants. Research how big each plant will be at maturity and plant accordingly. I say that to save you a bunch of transplanting later. Just a nice organic undyed mulch between the plants until they fill in.

My lamb's ear is huge compared to the size it was when I started. Given another three years and I wouldn't need to have anything else in my ditchbed at all. But I have it planted in full sun.

underneath my trees I have columbine like has already been mentioned. Peonies because I adore them and they need a wind break when they bloom. Primroses because I love their vibrant colors, and lemon balm for the smell.

If you like ferns that might be an option depending on the soil. I have clay and the ferns did not survive here. I've been told the boston ferns will. But I like the painted ladies and they came back the first fall and then were gone.

Good luck with your shade bed.


[Linked Image]

Link Copied to Clipboard
Seasonal Ticker
Gardening Links
Gardening in November
Gardening in December
Gardening in January


Shop at Amazon and Support AGF
Are you shopping online? Click this link first and A Gardeners Forum will receive a commission for your referral at Amazon.com (shopping through this link to Amazon will not have any impact on your prices at Amazon).
Like Us on Facebook
Forum Statistics
Forums65
Topics14,316
Posts241,392
Average Daily Posts3
Members16,001
Most Online10,356
Nov 2nd, 2019
Top Posters(30 Days)
Random Gallery Image
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0