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Planting under established Himalayan birch trees

marisa.allenmarisa.allen Posts: 4
in Garden design
Hi there, I have an existing border with some 15 year old Himalayan birch trees. They were under planted with dog wood but the time has come where I want to remove the dog wood and under plant with woodland plants. 

As the trees are very mature it’s almost impossible to dig out the dogwood due to the thick roots and anything that grows there must deal with very dry shade. 

How would I best remove the dogwood and would I then be able to sow seedlings in this area or plug plants? I cannot put in mature plants due to the tree roots. On past experience the trees suck the life out of anything I try to grow although I have had better results with lambs ears and heuchera. 

Your thoughts would be welcomed.

thanks

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Have you got a photo @marisa.allen? That will help with advice.  :)
    If there's been a lot of cornus in below them, it will certainly be very difficult to get them out, and even if you do, you'd need to spend some time refreshing the soil to give anything new a good chance of thriving. Trying to put in small plants, or plugs, is hard too, because they're less likely to establish and grow. Things like foxgloves will certainly manage though, once established  :)
    I can't really help with dry shade as it's not something I really have, but others will have suggestions.
    If you can also give some info as to your location and general climate, that will also help with ideas. The size of the area you want to cover too. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • marisa.allenmarisa.allen Posts: 4
    Hi Fairygirl, apologies for the delay but I was away for a mini break  :).
    I have taken some pics of the area. It will be impossible to dig out the dog wood. The sedums were planted from the outset, but the lambs ears and Acer Orange Dream planted last year, along with heucheras which are doing well, but these are the only areas I was able to dig up! Unfortunately we only have 4 birches as the original and replacement did not take so we were left with a gap. 

    I would really love to see the stems of the birches and underplant with low level woodland plants. It all looks so messy now. 

    I understand that if I replenish the soil I do not want to fill it too deep as it could rot the tree roots? 

    Any ideas to rejuvenate this area would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks

    .
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Had you thought of coppicing the dogwoods each spring? … That way you’ll see more of the birch trunks and you’ll also get better colour from the dogwood stems which will contrast beautifully with the birch trunks in the winter. 

    If you start off with tiny woodland plants and bulbs …  eg primroses and wood anemones, they’ll be easy enough to plant amongst the roots and they’ll flower in the spring just after the coppicing has been done, just as happens in natural woodland, and will look fantastic. 



    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • marisa.allenmarisa.allen Posts: 4
    @dovefromabove, I have in the past coppiced the dogwood but not that often. However that sounds like a great idea. I assume I need Anemone nemorosa which I can buy bulk bulbs? The primrose I can buy as plug plants. Obviously this will be for next spring? Do you think the plug plants will take considering the soil is so dry?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    In your specific case I would plant primrose plugs in the autumn … they’ll stand a better chance that way.  You could get some seed and start them off now. I did just that a few years ago and they’ve really spread over the past few years. 

    Anemone nemorosa are available from Broadleigh … I’ve always had very good quality bulbs and service from them https://broadleigh.dejager.co.uk/76/Anemone-Nemorosa 

    Dont be afraid to coppice the Cornus hard … I’ve never found they object. 

    Let us know how it goes. We love a project. 

    😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • marisa.allenmarisa.allen Posts: 4
    That’s really helpful, thank you  :)
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