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Lost a tree! What to do with my shade garden?
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Posted by standbyq13 6a (My Page) on Thu, Jun 22, 06 at 11:19
Hello everyone. We had a medium-sized tree fall down in strong winds last weekend. This tree was fairly dense at sat on the south end of my shade garden. I still have a huge old oak that gives me the most shade as well as a old dogwood and a decently sized redbud. However, the south end of my shade garden has gone from 1-2 hours of sun, with the remainder of the day in full shade to 2-3 hours of full sun and the rest of the day it's dappled shade. I'm worried about my plants! This is the newest section of my garden and was reclaimed from yard late this spring. It's not full and had some part-sun things already, which I think will be fine. I have some hostas there, but they are mostly under the dogwood and redbud. I am mostly worried about my columbine. I have three large ones that should be fine as they are under the dogwood. But I have 2 small Cameo columbines that I am using as border plants and are now in the fullest area of sun. They were planted early this spring, then I moved them when I expanded the garden recently. They have been struggling a little since I moved them, I think they are in shock. Now I worried that they are getting way too much sun, but I'm concerned about moving them again! Can anyone please advise me about these plants? I also have some old-fashioned bleeding hearts that I just put in the ground (bareroot) under the redbud. They are still getting part shade, but without the other tree they are getting at least 1 hour of sun. Will they be okay here?
My final question is about the trees. The redbud was growing under the tree that fell and now that it is gone the redbud has a terrible shape. It looks like an umbrella, and the lowest branches reach almost to the ground. We are considering trimming it back pretty hard to try to get it to grow a little more up, but I don't know how it will react to that. Also, cutting it back more will give my garden another increase in sun. Removing a the large lower branch will allow a little bit of sun to reach the back of my shade garden in mid-morning. (That area receives NO sun at all right now.)
Basically, what would all of you more experienced gardeners do in this situation? I know that you will all know better than I do! I am just starting my gardens and learning so fast, thanks largely to this great forum! Thanks in advance! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Lost a tree! What to do with my shade garden?
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| The columbine should be fine with the amount of sun it gets. Mine gets a lot of morning sun and is thriving. You might want to consider pruning off the lower branches on the redbud. |
RE: Lost a tree! What to do with my shade garden?
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i was just reading the Victory Garden Companion book
micheal says that most plants can usually deal with a good deal more sone than we think. so i'd leave it all alone. Usually redbuds can handle full sun as the are a forest edge tree i'd sit tight. and plant a new tree. diggerb |
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