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Ground cover in shade under beech
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Posted by jah_in_MA z6 MA (My Page) on Wed, Mar 16, 05 at 11:36
| Looking for suggestions on a ground cover under and in the drip line of an American Beech. By midsummer it is deep shade. Acidic soil and one more: deer resistant. Been trying to match up plants from the shade list and deer resistant list with not much luck.
Thanks,
John |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Ground cover in shade under beech
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| If truly full shade, try sand. If area gets at least some strong morning light, try Geranium macorrhizum. It worked for me under a hemlock, and after its first two years there, blooms reliably. And then there’s Pachysandra; it might take a while to establish itself, but if and when it does, it will continue to expand. So will the Geraniums; both have for me, and I'm surrounded by hemlocks, the bane of all gardens. For either, mix in as much moisture-retaining material as you can—peat, sawdust, old socks [(:-)], whatever. Moisture retention, deep watering and a thick mulch are necessary (and unfortunately will encourage the beech's roots toward the surface, but there is little to be done about that). |
RE: Ground cover in shade under beech
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| Thanks for the reply. Yes, it does get some morning sun, not strong but some. I will try some geraniums, cant hurt. |
RE: Ground cover in shade under beech
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I put in greek oregano underneath a garden bench that sits under a dogwood tree. I was sure it would die as it gets no sun and no direct water. It lived and has grown. I think something called sweet woodruff is supposed to like the shade and is fragrant. Check you're zone though, not sure if it's hardy up there.
If all else fails there is always monkey grass, unkillable. |
RE: Ground cover in shade under beech
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| Thanks for the reply, will check into those since they are both fragrant and shade tolerant. |
RE: Ground cover in shade under beech
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| pachysandra. semi-evergreen. we have it all over here, the deer don't touch it, it tolerates deep shade and most soil conditions and grows around tree trunks. small white fragrant flowers in spring but hardly a scent really... some people hate pachysandra (i used to) but it's useful practical and hardy. |
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