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What can I plant under my ash tree.
gabrieleaston
Posts: 1
Hello, this is my first time posting on this website and I was hoping for a little help. I live in Montreal, Canada and need a little help solving a planting issue. So, right now we are in summer and this large ash tree shades under its canopy. In the winter, however, it is full sunlight from 10 am till roughly 5 ish in winter and 9 ish in summer. I was hoping to plant an evergreen that has leaf cover in summer and maybe produces a berry or something in winter? I was thinking Holly but I don't know if it will survive being so shaded in summer... Can anyone help me out, please? I have included 2 pictures, one of the ash tree and surrounding area and one of the plants I want to pull out and replace.
Last edited: 04 June 2017 01:00:48
0
Posts
Hi Gabriel
Welcome to the forum
Most of the forum members are in the UK and our climate - whilst very variable from north to south and west to east - is generally temperate.
I have Eleagnus Ebbingei 'Limelight' and Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Goshiki' growing under a mature ash tree. They are both evergreen, variegated shrubs and they help to light up a dark space.
They were both planted when the tree was already mature so the soil had to be very well prepared with lots of added compost etc. and they needed copious watering for the first 2 seasons. They are currently doing well.
They don't mind the differing light levels through the year - but they do need to be kept well watered until they have established deep roots. I also feed them every year to compensate for the competition from surrounding trees and hedges
I have no idea whether they would be sufficiently hardy in Montreal.
You will need to check on the Zone - I think you are around 2 or 3 in Montreal. Then your best bet is to go to a good gardening centre/nursery in your area and they will be better able to assist than we in the UK can. It's a beautiful tree but it is big, so I think it will be challenging to underplant simply because it will be too dry - the tree will take all the moisture. It may be that you will have to content yourself with annual bedding plants in the summer...and lots of water!
Acuba Japonica the spotted laurel has many varieties that can cope very well in the shade and the leaves range from dark to speckled shades. The berries are very striking and large.
Other shrubs can also do well in the conditions I saw in your photo. Euonymus Japonica has red and white berry versions and leaves range in green to variegated forms. Skimmia Japonicas can grow very well in shade. There are flowers and berries and the leaves look great all year round. But do check the hardiness in your local area as on average many of these shrubs will cope with up to -15 - 20c max.
Last edited: 04 June 2017 11:43:32