Soil full of tree roots, north, fence
wakeshine
Posts: 975
Hi there, can anyone suggest a colourful (preferably flowering) plant. It is a north facing border at the back of the garden, against a fence, and the soil is full of the neighbours leylandii hedge roots. There was a rhodadendron there for about 6 years, which never flowered and has yellowing leaved. I removed it yesterday - the soil around the rhod was compacted but that is another story - I have put that in a pot for now.
I'm not sure what the definition of 'poor soil' would be, but in the same area - there are also a hydrangea and an oriental poppy which both never flower. I'm planning to remove them too. Next to the space where the rhod was removed, there is a holly and some other evergreen bushes I don't know the name of. But I would like some flowering colour now in the rhod gap.
The soil is just ridden with roots. There is pretty much shade all day there as there are many overhanging huge conifers from all gardens around including ours. So I do wonder what will grow there. Do you think a rose would grow? We have roses all around the rest of the garden - mostly on the south facing border - these do very well. Never tried on on this side. What about some martagon lilies, or a tree peony? Do you think I'll have any luck with those? Just to re-iterate, the area is COMPLETE shade, and near loads of trees, and the soil is pretty crap! Rest garden has clay very fertile soil.
Last edited: 28 April 2017 13:43:07
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I think you'll struggle to get much to establish there. I can get away with planting under conifers, but only because we have a lot of rain - even in summer. I'm not surprised the hydrangea isn't doing well.
You might get hardy geraniums to take - and once established, they'll be fine. It would be worth improving the soil drastically first, and when you plant anything, really drown it with water and then mulch. If you can raise the crown of any of those conifers, that will help as well.
Take a look at Long Acres nursery online - they specialise in plants for shade of all types.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Dry shade is one of the most difficult things to cope with. Fairy's suggestion to try hardy geraniums is great; there are a few other things you could try too. The hardy cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium) which flowers in autumn, is pretty happy in such a position. It has lovely leaves too, following the flowers. In my experience you're better buying them as growing plants in August or September from a garden centre, rather than as dry corms - those sometimes sulk and don't produce anything. You could try snowdrops and daffodils too.
Some other tough perennials can cope with dry shade. I had vinca minor (periwinkle) in quite a dry, rooty spot in my last garden and it did ok. Variegated ivy is useful if nothing else will grow... no bright flowers though. Aquilegia (the old fashioned "Granny's Bonnets" sort) seeds itself into the shadiest part of my garden and would be ok, I think. I've seen astrantia in deep, dry shade though not tried it myself.
If you want something shrubby, berberis is really tough and can cope with a lot of shade.
Quite a lot of shrubs will cope with dry shade once you get them going - Spirea, mahonia, leycesteris, skimmia, euonymus. ribes etc. Perennials such as vinva, mentioned before, geraniums, pulmonaria, pachysandra, alchemilla mollis etc.
Bring in a bunch of fresh soil and pile it up on top of the existing dirt. Even just a few grow bags of soil will make a world of different when trying to establish your new plants. The tree roots will soon grow up into the new soil, but hopefully by then your new plants will have a head start. If you can, fork it in.. but if it's too rooty.. just dump it there on top. The worms will work it in eventually. Give every thing a deep water at least weekly for the first year, until the roots are formed and deep into the soil. You may need to water intermediately when dry every year, as it's not really a natural place for plants to grow. Beech Grove did some great episodes on planting under conifers last year, when they butchered most of their established ones by pruning up the trunk.. you might find some old episodes somewhere to watch.
Thank you all so much for these detailed suggestions. I was hoping someone would say a rose or peony would work but alas no one did. Actually as per Liriodendron and Fairygirl's suggestions - there are some daffodils, a geranium Rozanne and an aquilegia there! Thank you.
I just need something bigger to fill the space and will look up your suggestions. Does anyone know of any rose or clematis which grow in total shade in poor soil?
No - they're greedy plants, roses and clematis, and wouldn't thrive there as they'd need huge amounts of water. It's why your rhododendron and hydrangea wouldn't grow well there either.
Leylandii will prevent most things from thriving as the roots will travel a long way and suck up all the moisture from the surrounding soil. Euphorbias might do well enough if they get properly established.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I don't think they would be particularly happy there to be honest - Clematis montana and a few others would survive but they would end up climbing towards the light. You might be able to get a tree peony to live but it probably wouldn't be a very happy looking thing. Probably better to have a real toughie growing well, than something pretty which looks like it's on death's door. Something like Viburnum davidii or rhytidophyllum (yeah I know - not the most exciting). Euphorbia amydaloides is useful for that sort of spot.