UNL Extension — helping you turn knowledge into "know how"
Planting Under Trees submitted by Sarah Browning, UNL Extension
Educator Growing grass is almost impossible in the heavy shade
created by mature trees and many gardeners struggle with the
best method for managing this difficult area of their landscape,
but it is possible to have attractive plantings in these shaded
locations, while still preserving the tree’s health. Here are a
few tips for creating a beautiful shade garden underneath your
trees. Don’t Install a Raised Bed: Some homeowners try to manage
the problem of bare soil beneath mature trees by installing
raised planting beds, however, this practice is strongly
discouraged for several reasons. First, adding soil over the top
of an existing tree's root system reduces the amount of oxygen
that can penetrate into the underlying soil. Oxygen is essential
for root health and growth, and a lack of oxygen will result in
root death. Often trees begin an imperceptible decline after the
installation of a