Trees are used in the garden as natural shade providers, fruit suppliers or privacy screens - to increase their ornamental value, planting a ground cover underneath is a great thing. Suitable varieties and the planting practice are decisive for the planning.
Ground covers have a positive effect on the soil quality under trees
What ground cover can do under trees
Many a solitary tree or a group of trees at the edge of the garden eke out a somewhat functional existence - for example simply as a property boundary or as a privacy screen. In order to bring a little more liveliness into such a scenario and to increase the feel-good value of your garden, underplanting with a pretty ground cover is highly recommended. With decorative foliage and delicate flowers, this can result in highly attractive structural and color contrasts.
A slightly more pragmatic reason to plant a groundcover under trees is the soil-improving effect of many varieties. This can be very advantageous for the microbiotope under the tree.
The arguments for tree underplanting with ground cover again at a glance:
- visual enhancement of peripheral groups of trees
- attractive structural and color contrasts
- soil-improving effect of the ground cover
Species check - which trees, which ground cover?
Different trees, different roots
Of course you have to coordinate the species with the tree underplanting and take into account both the tree and the ground cover. Because not only the ground cover must be able to tolerate a shady location, the properties of the tree are also relevant.
Shallow roots such as maple or beech can take nutrients and water away from the ground cover - they also make planting a little more difficult. You have less soil available here and you have to be careful not to damage the tree roots. If necessary, you must or can apply an additional layer of soil.
Typical deciduous forest ground cover and bulb flowers
When choosing the ground cover, of course, the shade or penumbra tolerance is crucial. Varieties that also like to grow naturally on forest soils are particularly suitable. These include, for example, anemones, lesser celandine, hellebore, cranesbill, forget-me-nots or ferns. The delicate flowers and leaf structures of all these species blend in very harmoniously and naturally under deciduous trees.
In addition to these typical, simple deciduous forest beauties, many other, optically more present species are also possible, for example ornamental onions or bulb flowers such as grape hyacinths, tuple and daffodils. With their large, colorful flowers and their rather tall growth, these varieties form a relatively powerful contrast to the tree crown.
Evergreen or ivy are also ideal as simple, robust and relatively hard-wearing underplanting.