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Planting Problem.

Calling all Plantsmen/women. A regular maintenance customer of mine has about 20M2 of lawn (not) growing under a pine.

The current lawn is in semi shade on chalk. The roots from the tree are taking most of the available water. This along with the acidity from falling needles is not really giving the lawn a chance.

 

The customer is keen to change this area to something else.

It is in the front garden of which about 50% is a block paved drive. So no more hard landscaping and more greenery would be preferable.

I have thought of trying plant it up with lilly of the valley, Vinca minor or Hostas etc.

Another thought is to cover the area in some sort of aggregate and plant a few shrubs through a membrane. The needles may be a problem with this though; maintenance wise.

If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations of suitable planting or if any one has planted up or maintains a similar site I would like to know what you think.

 

Many Thanks,

 

Nick

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  • have a look on my blog, I have planted several borders with those specifications, and there is a good selection of plants you can use

     

    dry and shady border

    summer colour in shady borders

     

    I can also do a planting list by post if you need more detailed plans

  • Thanks Claire, That border is looking great. Especially in spring.

     

    I should have been more specific. The lawn is already surrounded by borders to three sides. The customer would like something with very little maintenance. Ideal something low growing and spreading that will look after it's self. I thought Lilly of the valley would be a good bet. What do think? I could put in a few Dicentra, Fuchsia and Hellebores. The customers is very keen on Hellebores.

     

    Thanks, Nick

  • I agree with everything Claire and Brigitt have suggested, the borders they've created look really great. Last year I planted under large pines and the needles that come down do cause problems, pines shed more in the autumn. Anyway, here are a few more suggestions of my own that I found to be very hardy in similar conditions:

    Euphorbia amygdlaoides 'Robbiae' , low maintenance (sap causes rashes though, wear gloves)

    Hypericum calycinum - good ground cover

    Geranium macrorrhizum

    Pachysandra terminalis 'Green Sheen'- a lovely glossy leaved variety

    Heucheras, heucherellas

    Vinca major and minor

     

    I hope you have enough to choose from now, good luck Nick

     

     

     

  • Hi Nick

    Tricky spot especially if the soil is lacking in organic matter, however a few barrow loads of muck would soon sort that out.

    Hostas might not be so happy they can go a bit yellow in chalky soil, depends a lot on your pH.

    Vinca should be ok, have you thought about euonymus lots of them are happy in chalk.

    A great resource is the RHS plant selector http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/ and you don't have to be an rhs member to use it.

    Good luck

  • Decompact the root area and mulch well, and plant drought-tolerant species. The tree will be taking water from whatever you plant as well as the grass that is there now.

  • Thank you all so much!

    Lots of brilliant information here. Will have another chat with customer and formulate a plan.

    Thanks again,

     

    Nick

     

  • Hi Nick just to add that Lily of the valley while beautiful is there for such a short time.

    How about ground cover cotoneaster - white spring flowers, red autumn berries and great weed suppressing ground cover. - Cotoneaster Horizontalis or Dammeri or mooncreeper are great varieties

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