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new garden nothing growing under tree

berardeberarde Posts: 147
in Problem solving
good evening'
I' ve been in a new garden for 3 months, natural woodland but a bit neglected, The area under this cherry tree was moss and some weeds. I sprayed glyphosate and hand -weeded a couple of months ago and the weeds are gone. There is moss left but no new weeds have grown, so I  wonder if there is a problem with the soil before doing any sort of planting? I'll be pruning the tree. By contrast the area under this apple tree was grass when we came so I don't think that the problem can be shade and the apple tree gets less light too.

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The fact that no new weeds have grown isn't necessarily a factor in determining the soil health. It'll depend on what you want to plant there, the general climate, and what the aspect is as to how well anything grows. It always helps to add lots of organic matter to an area like that before planting anything new too. 

    It would look better if a proper bed was created around it. That will set off the tree nicely.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Cherry trees are often quite shallow-rooted and it'll be sucking up moisture and nutrients. Be careful planting around it so you don't damage the roots at all - they are very prone to suckering even without any encouragement. I agree with @Fairygirl , the area would look better if you cut a clean edge to the grass and mulch the area. I think I'd make a clear circle around the apple tree too, but it doesn't seem to mind the grass up close to its trunk - if you keep it that way, be careful not to damage the bark when you're cutting the grass.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    The absennce of weeds from what I can see, and the almost regulrt sem-circle shape, suggests that the bare area has been created with weedkillers.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    You say ‘no new weeds have grown’.  Isn’t that what’s expected from a dose of glyphosate?  Hope it hasn’t been absorbed by the roots of your tree. 
    Loosen the soil slightly,  pile on some compost and try planting next Spring when the glyphosate’s finished its job.
    Glyphosate won’t kill moss. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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