Planting flowers around trees in a few flower gardens is a simple way to add a splash of color to your landscaping. Because the ground beneath trees also often becomes muddy, planting flowering plants under trees is also a great way to spruce up an otherwise ugly blemish on your lawn.
However, due to the environmental conditions below most trees, not just any flower will grow under any tree. Also, if the tree is dying or diseased, then it could affect your flower bed too. Contact a tree and bush removal service if that’s the case, and get the dying tree removed. Then, you could replace it with a healthy one and start the flower planting process. Learn about some recommended flowers to plant around trees as well as some decorating ideas and how to care for flowers under trees with these useful tips and suggestions.
Recommended Flowers
Certain flowers grow better in certain environmental conditions. Because trees usually create shady areas, full shade and partial shade flowers grow best under and around trees. When choosing flowers to plant around trees, you must also take into consideration the type of tree you are planting under. If you want to plant flowers under deciduous trees, choose any of the following popular partial or full shade flowers:
- Astilbe
- Azalea
- Crocus
- Daffodil
- Foamflower
- Fuchsia
- Hellebore
- Hosta
- Impatien
- Lily of the valley
- Liverwort
- Lungwort
- Narcissus
- Primrose
- Rhododendron
- Solomon’s seal
- Spiderwort
- Tulip
- Violet
- Wild ginger
Because evergreens like pine trees create acidic soil, flowers planted under evergreen trees must tolerate or thrive in acidity. If you want to plant flowers under evergreen trees, choose any of the following popular flowers:
- Astilbe
- Azalea
- Choke cherry
- Feverfew
- Hellebore
- Holly
- Hosta
- Huechera
- Hydrangea
- Lacecap
- Lily of the valley
- Mahonia
- Periwinkle
- Rhododendron
- Rose of Sharon
- Silver nettle
- Violet
- Wildflowers
- Wild ginger
- Wild strawberry
I personally am a fan of hostas. Over the past couple of years, my mom has planted hostas around the bases of three of the four pine trees in my backyard. I also have been adding more hostas in the shade under my burning bushes. Hostas are perennials are plants that live for longer than two years.
Decorating Ideas
If you want to add some flowers to your landscaping, planting flowers around trees can be as easy as picking out some flowers and planting them around the base of the tree or as involved as planting with a theme. If you have a theme in the rest of your garden, plant flowers around your trees that complement the rest of your plants. For example, if you have flower beds full of wildflowers, plant some shade loving wildflowers under your trees. You can also choose plants for around your trees that contrast with the rest of your landscaping. For example, subdued hostas contrast beautifully with gardens full of brightly color tulips and daffodils. You can also add some garden decorations to the flowers under your trees to add an interesting or eye-catching element to your landscaping.
Caring for Flowers
Caring for flowers planted under trees is similar to caring for other plants. When planting flowers around trees, begin by preparing the soil in which you plan to plant. If the roots of the tree are close to the surface of the earth, dig down only far enough to remove any existing grass or weeds and then add a few inches of compost or gardening soil. Damaging the roots of the tree can cause damage or death to the branches. Also be careful to not damage the bark on the tree while planting or caring for your flowers. Finally plant your flowers according to the directions on the seed or seedling packages. Periodically weed the flower beds under your trees to remove any weeds. Planting plants close together will help prevent weeds from growing. Water if the ground becomes dry. The best part of planting flowers around trees is that the shade from the tree helps retain moisture in the soil by preventing the sun from drying out the dirt too quickly!
The area under trees is an excellent space in which to plant partial and full shade flowers. Planting flowers around trees offers a splash of color in any landscaping and also covers a space that might otherwise be bare and ugly.
References
Flowers under Shade Trees: http://www.bhg.com/gardening/trees-shrubs-vines/trees/flowers-under-shade-trees/
How to Plant Flowers under Trees: http://www.gardenguides.com/109594-plant-flowers-under-trees.html
Planting under Pine Trees: http://oldfashionedliving.com/pines.html
Image Credits
Gardening Tips and Ideas for Planting Flowers Around Trees 2011 Heather Johnson
Flowers Planted around a Tree 2011 Heather Johnson
