Trees are amazing oxygen factories that live in most of our gardens.
Not only do they supply a habitat for many bird species and other animal species, but they also have a major cooling effect on the residence.
Trees can be used for screening and also be planted as windbreaks.
There are so many benefits in having trees on your property.
All too often nothing wants to grow or survive under the canopy of a beautiful tree and all the attempts end up in paving these bare and ‘dead’ areas.
There are several reasons why trees do not have other plants as their neighbours at their roots.
Understanding these reasons will shed light on the possible remedies for successful gardening under a tree.
Certain tree species do not want competition at their roots and make the soil only ideal for themselves.
These trees release chemicals into the soil either through their roots or alternatively through the decomposing of their fallen leaves on the soil surface.
All plants need nutrients in the soil and all too often we have delicate plants competing for food and water with big trees.
The aggressive feeding nature of some trees robs all valuable plant nutrients and water from plants with smaller and more delicate roots.
To remedy this, it is suggested to grow plants in soil that is not in contact with the actual garden soil.
Container gardening, or planting in pots, adds height and interest to a garden and allows us to grow plants where their roots will not compete with that of the tree.
One major cause of dead patches under a tree is that the soil is very compacted.
This compaction can be caused by the weight of the entire tree on the soil surface or alternatively due to the deuteriation of the soil as a result of the lack of organic material.
Too much digging can also have a severe negative effect where soil compacts.
Compacted soil can be improved by digging in fair amounts of compost or by planting plants in the soil so that their roots can further break up the soil and allow air through.
Mother Nature has been fighting compaction for centuries by allowing fallen leaves to form a blanket on the soil surface…allowing nature to decompose it by itself.
When it rains we often find shelter under the canopy of a tree.
This is a clear indication that not all rain reaches the garden area directly under a tree.
Remember to always water well under the canopy of a tree. There are a few waterwise shade-loving plants that will not require a lot of water once they have established themselves.
There is a wide range of plants that will perform well in the shade of a tree once the growing medium (soil) has been corrected.
Most good nurseries have grouped shade-loving plants together for easier shopping – there is so much to choose from!
Trees often give sufficient protection against frost and severe sunlight, giving us the opportunity to enjoy more delicate plants in our gardens.
Love your tree and it will love you back.
Article compiled by David Viljoen.
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