Landscaping: Tree stump, ground coverings?

Replies: 12 Views: 377

Author	Comment
jyn23 Cleveland, OK (Zone 7b) March 14, 2007 09:19 PM	I'm interested in planting Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow Bugleweed' around that tree stump. Does it look like a good idea? Is that hard to maintain? FAst growing ? Thanks!! The picture shows the front of the tree stump (when people drive by thats what they see). View Larger
tcs1366 Itasca,IL&Lk Delton, WI (Zone 5a) March 14, 2007 09:41 PM	info on the bugleweed http://www.perennialresource.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants...
sallyg Anne Arundel Co., MD (Zone 7a) March 16, 2007 10:22 AM	Trying to save you some troublwe here- Whatever you try there, I wouldn't spend too much money on any one thing. I think you'll have real problems with the roots. You might mulch it all, and try a little of two or three things and see what happens the first summer. I'm afraid the ajuga will just not have enough moisture. But if you can keep it looking happy,, get more thenext year. I have vinca minor and wintercreeper around two trees.
LarissaH Denton, TX (Zone 7b) March 16, 2007 01:21 PM	Have you thought of decorative rock and a few drought & shade tolerant plants instead of ground cover?
windyctygrl Chicago, IL March 16, 2007 01:24 PM	Im a big fan of pachysandra, its biggest drawback is that it won't handle foot traffic. Once its established, it has a wonderful stately look to it. I have a 12 x 20 foot section of pachysandra in my front yard, it was planted instead of grass. I put in a few geraniums in the summer to give a little color to it.
pepper23 KC Metro area, MO (Zone 5b) March 16, 2007 10:09 PM	Hosta would look good there and should live.
DaleTheGardener Tampa, FL (Zone 10a) March 21, 2007 08:24 PM	Vines. the plant can be placed away from the trunk and allowed to grow over the barren area. View Larger
dax080 Cedar Rapids, IA (Zone 5a) March 23, 2007 11:07 AM	Another nice looking, tough-as-nails groundcover for under trees is Deadnettle - I've found variegated especially pretty in the shade. Dax I don't have a picture of the deadnettle, but here is Pachysandra under a pine with hosta - it is the line in approx. the center of the pic. For them, however, I do think you will need to amend the soil with lots of organics, and will need to water regularly for them to thrive. The deadnettle is extremely drought tolerant once established. View Larger
1gardengram Fayetteville, NC (Zone 8a) March 24, 2007 10:05 PM	I have ajuga growing under trees and it does well in that amount of shade, and it doesn't spread out into the sunny parts. I also have pachysandra in a completely shady bed along the front of the house and it is blooming this year (purchased on ebay and planted last April). They are both pretty tough little ground covers and I love them. No maintenance, never outgrow their boundaries, regular watering is fine, feed once a year in the spring. Lots of the suggestions above are good ones. You can plant a lot of things under tree stumps if you look around. I love the roots on your tree. You can really enhance them with what you plant.
jyn23 Cleveland, OK (Zone 7b) March 24, 2007 11:24 PM	Thank you EVERYONE for all your responses. I will definetly keep you posted with what we decide to do! We are waiting to get our roof re-roofed before I start the landscaping!
goshsmom Cincinnati, OH (Zone 6a) March 29, 2007 12:08 AM	If the soil in that area is really poor, you might want to consider sweet woodruff. It can survive in poor soil where nothing else can. HOWEVER, if you put it in amended soil, it will get highly invasive. It is a lovely and fragrant plant when kept in its place. Take a look at these photos & info. http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/55/index.html Pat
rebecca30 Cary, NC (Zone 7b) May 27, 2007 03:12 AM	You may want to try Variegated Greater Periwinkle 'Variegata' Vinca major or even Vinca Minor Good Luck. :))
dax080 Cedar Rapids, IA (Zone 5a) May 29, 2007 01:17 PM	FYI - here's a pic of that dead nettle I mentioned above - View Larger