What to grow under eucalyptus tree?
Pinkpepper
Posts: 21
We have a 30 year old eucalyptus tree. We had new turf laid in the garden 3 months ago but the soil around the tree (an area at least 1 to 2 metres surrounding the base of the trunk) is very dry and patches of the grass has turned brown.
Is this because of the continually falling leaves and bark that peels off and lays on the grass? Or is it due to the tree's roots sucking all the moisture from the ground?
The area under the tree is in full sun for a fair portion of the day.
What would grow there? I'm after something very low maintenance. Should I try a grass seed specifically for dry areas or is there a low maintenance shrub or plant that would thrive in those conditions? Would a ground cover like Creeping Thyme or Sweet Violet manage? Or what about lavender? Or would it be best to pave/gravel that area?
Advice please!
Posts
I'd trim the turf back so you have a neat circle of bare soil. You can then use this for feeding and watering your tree, and can mulch with well made garden compost in the autumn and spring to help conserve moisture.
Trees never do well with grass up to their trunks.
Some Cyclamen hederafolium or coum would look pretty there and wouldn't be bothered by the mulching
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
A large phormium lived under my eucalyptus for many years until the really bad frost got it. Its coming back slowly from the rootstock.