 |
• The New Perennial Club
• Newsletter/Archive
• About Us
• Business Hours
• Location
• Contact
• In the News
• Local Events
• Manager Features
• Top Sellers
• Free E-Flyer
• Bug Report
• Poisonous Plants
• Feedback
• Learn How to Search
• Plant Tag Symbols
|
|
 | Ask an Expert
(Questions & Answers) |
Here's the answer to the question. Glad we could help!
| Question Number: 50 | Type: Problem Sites/Dry, Hot and Sunny |
 |
 |
| |
 | I have a flower area under a Russian Olive and Amur Maple Tree where nothing seems to want to grow. It is in full shade all morning, and in the afternoon it does receive the hot sun for about four hours. The area is very dry due to the trees. Could you please help me? I live in Zone 3 but have some flowers which are zoned for 4. |
| |
 | That is a difficult site that you described. My best success in sites like this has been with drought tolerant plants that are usually indicated as preferring full sun. They will often tolerate morning shade, and put up with hot afternoon sun better than most "shade" plants.
I would start with Stonecrops (Sedum) of various types... there are plenty of short types to choose from, as well as the taller fall-blooming selections like 'Autumn Joy'. Daylilies (Hemerocallis) should handle it there as well. You might try some other vigorous groundcover type plants, such as Cerastium (Snow-in-Summer), Thyme (Thymus), or even an evergreen spreading Juniper or similar.
Using a mulch around the plants will help to conserve whatever moisture is there. It will be a fight over the years with those tree roots, but trial and error should give you a small collection of plants that put up with it. Be sure to water well for the first season or two, until the new perennials get a chance to establish well.
One last option to consider, is growing plants in containers. In cold climates like yours, annuals are probably the best choice. Again, I would go with things that tolerate hot sun, like Verbena, Petunias, Salvia, etc, rather than more shade-loving kinds. The containers will need to be watered regularly, but at least the plants will not have to compete with those nasty tree roots. -- John Valleau |
| |
|
|
| |
Have a another question? We're always happy to help. But we might already have the answer. Keep scrolling through the Q & As first. If you don't find your answer, you can ask a question yourself.
|
|
|
|
