i have a large apple tree and two large pear trees both in sunny positions but the earth is quite dry what are the best plants to put in the round borders I have created round the trees.
You don't want anything that demands too much from the soil: the trees will already have had that and of course their roots will be placing a large demand on the water level hence it always being dry there.
I am putting spring bulbs under my pear tree: they will add some wonderful colour until the tree kicks in with beautiful leafs and blossom. I'm also sinking some buckets into the soil so that I can put more demanding summer plants in pots and throw them in: then just replace with different ones from the greenhouse as the season goes round. The buckets will give me control over watering and nutrition.
What is worth considering is what are you actually wanting:
- Year long colour or a seasonal burst of colour?
- Something you can use in the garden (like a herb) or purely ornamental?
- Something you can change every year or something that will slowly develop over several years (like a ring of lavender bushes for instance)
- Is this an area that has a high volume of traffic? Like dogs or children? Not purely because you want to make sure what you plant is safe and will survive being bonked around but because you can add to the beautiful display by having wonderfully smelly plants: I am putting rosemary near where the dog runs when he brushes up against he gets a stealth perfume!
Tell us exactly what your dream is and we'll try and help you make it come true.
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Spring bulbs.
English Bluebells too.
Geraniums
cow parsley
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
You don't want anything that demands too much from the soil: the trees will already have had that and of course their roots will be placing a large demand on the water level hence it always being dry there.
I am putting spring bulbs under my pear tree: they will add some wonderful colour until the tree kicks in with beautiful leafs and blossom. I'm also sinking some buckets into the soil so that I can put more demanding summer plants in pots and throw them in: then just replace with different ones from the greenhouse as the season goes round. The buckets will give me control over watering and nutrition.
What is worth considering is what are you actually wanting:
- Year long colour or a seasonal burst of colour?
- Something you can use in the garden (like a herb) or purely ornamental?
- Something you can change every year or something that will slowly develop over several years (like a ring of lavender bushes for instance)
- Is this an area that has a high volume of traffic? Like dogs or children? Not purely because you want to make sure what you plant is safe and will survive being bonked around but because you can add to the beautiful display by having wonderfully smelly plants: I am putting rosemary near where the dog runs when he brushes up against he gets a stealth perfume!
Tell us exactly what your dream is and we'll try and help you make it come true.