Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Plants for a shallow area above a piped stream ?

muckyhandsmikemuckyhandsmike Posts: 239
in Plants
We have a stream running under our back lawn. Where it enters the garden is an access/display area and there is a semi circle of border around it. The problem is that it appears to be of quite shallow depth above the pipework and surrounding concrete/stone.
i had planted around the stream head with euonymus white spire as I wanted something evergreen. I also added hibiscus and potentilla. However the euonymus (the majority) have really suffered with the winter frosts and are really quite brown tipped.
I expected them to overwinter ok so I’m presuming that the soil depth is perhaps too shallow ?
My question is will they recover ?
If not can anyone recommend shallow rooted evergreens that I could replace them with ?
If not evergreens what else would work ?
tia

Posts

  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    What is the soil depth ?  what size of plant are you looking for 

    The euonymus probably will return but if not quite a lot of the conifer family are shallow rooted with the exception of large varieties ( still shallow rooted for there size ) . Rhodi and azalea have a shallow fibrous root system again pick a smaller variety . 
  • muckyhandsmikemuckyhandsmike Posts: 239
    Hi Perki.
    Depth is about a foot I think.
    I don’t need great height - just enough to obscure the stream safety cover really.
    I quite like the idea of azalea or small rodos but would need to put in acid compost as our soil is alkaline.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @muckyhandsmike Your Euonymous will be fine. If you don't have acid soil I wouldn't try azaleas it could be a fight to keep them growing.
    I have found roots of a mature Euonymous Emerald and Gold in a drain.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Forget the rhodos/azaleas - you can't fundamentally change the soil pH long term in an open area. 
    I agree - the Euonymous will come back. A foot of soil is fine for most plants.

    I don't have anything like alkaline soil, so can't recommend plants to suit, but many plants aren't fussy on pH - those potentillas for example.

    A photo would help though, especially to get an idea of the size of the area.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited March 2023
    Yes a photo would help. Some of the ground cover Campanulas which are evergreen might work. Some are thugs but if you really want to cover ground it's a possible.
    Euonymous can be regularly pruned which will help restrict the roots.
    Potentillas can be cut back also in spring.


    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • muckyhandsmikemuckyhandsmike Posts: 239
    Ok thank you for your responses.
    I will persevere with the euonymus then and see if they bounce back.
    I know the potentilla will come back ok.
    I might add some campanula as I had it at the last house and it was ever reliable !
Sign In or Register to comment.