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Planting under a cherry blossom

C_paterson9C_paterson9 Posts: 5
in Garden design
I have ordered some salvias, artemisia, lavandula, campanula and alliums as I was planning to make a new bed around a cherry blossom in the front garden.  It's a very sunny spot as the foliage is quite high and the tree is mature but one side is dead and trimmed so I dont have shade issues.

I thought I had picked plants that like dry sun but I have been told by a friend that planting by the tree won't work and the plants will all die. I am a novice  gardener so would appreciate some advice. 

I might be able to extend the bed away from the tree rather than in an oval around it?  Or I could dig a brand new bed but the issue is we have a long thin front garden and it might look odd just having a bed half way down...

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Could we have a photo?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • C_paterson9C_paterson9 Posts: 5

  • C_paterson9C_paterson9 Posts: 5
    Its semi detached so our boundary runs where the bushes are.  Its north facing so planting up against the house is tricky.  I just wanted some colour in the front but probably should have done more research before ordering loads of plants....
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I'm sure you'll get sone good suggestions. I was wondering whether you really need to have grass the house side of the tree. 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 970
    There’s no reason you can’t have plants around a tree. It’s just a bit more of a challenge and you just need to make sure that you give some extra tlc whilst they establish as they will be competing with the tree.
     
    The soil may need some improvement so probably worth adding some bonemeal or ‘fish, blood and bone’ when you plant up your new bed. 

    Water generously when planting  and you will probably need to keep watering for the first summer/Autumn. You will know your plants have started to establish when they put on new growth (new leaves or buds appearing not existing leaves growing or existing flower buds opening). Anytime the plants look a bit droopy give them a good soak.


     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • mrtjformanmrtjforman Posts: 331
    one thing to bear in mind is that grass is the hardiest plant in existence and your grass has died in patches due to dehydration - the cheery will suck as much water out of its surroundings as it can.

    So if you can find a plant that is hardier than grass... Otherwise it will need a lot of watering. A circle around the tree will not work, but a square patch further away from it might, even for sun loving plants that still looks like it received too much sun imo. but you can always put up some shade cloth on sticks around the bed to provide a bit of shade.


  • C_paterson9C_paterson9 Posts: 5
    Thank you everyone.  The grass is a bit parched at the moment so that's a good point.  Usually it's ok apart from mid summer but we havent had a lot of rain lately.   I am happy to water the bed.  

    Thanks for the tip on fish, blood and bone food to improve the soil.  I wasnt sure what to use.  

    I think I will move the plan to a new bed between the house and tree. Just need to decide on shape and position. Circle/oval In middle, rectangle, semi circle bounding the drive etc.  
  • Excitable BoyExcitable Boy Posts: 165
    We dug out the bed around our cherry tree yesterday as, sadly, it has to go. Very very dry, even compared to the rest of the garden and despite watering. Huge amounts of root and be warned that damaged roots sprout like crazy. 

    Having said that the following were growing happily: heuchera, peony, aquilegia, lavender, lady's mantle, geraniums and, of course, foxgloves. 
  • C_paterson9C_paterson9 Posts: 5
    Hi, just to update, we dug the bed away from the cherry to give it more of a chance and chose plants that tolerate sun, lack of water etc.  

    Interestingly, you commented the grass was already dying in patches which I thought was the sun but when we dug deeper, it turns out we have a chafer grub problem so we are trying to solve this and will then plant up.

    Thanks for your advice.
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