You might consider artificial shrubs that require no care and don’t interfere with the tree in any way.
I’ve always been fond of rubbery shrubbery.
OK, that was weird - first it refuses on the basis that I was posting too quickly, and then it refuses on the basis that I had already posted, but it seems to actually have accepted both attempts.
I’ll be bookmarking this thread, because I have a similar problem in my yard and I spent half of this weekend ripping out poison ivy and other weeds under my pines. Look at what I started with on Saturday! I need to do something to the area so the weeds stop coming back with such ferocity. My plan is to tackle a small area at a time, planting stuff as I go, and hoping the new stuff will grow well and fight back against the weeds.
I do have some huge rhododendrons between the trees, and they’re doing fairly well, but what else can I put under the trees to keep the weeds away? I would have thought the 3-6 inch blanket of pine needles on the ground would have been an effective deterrent, but apparently not. But will plants or shrubs even help? If I plant a half dozen hostas in this area, for example, will I still have as big a problem with the weeds?
Seeing all that poison ivy is making me itch all the way over here…
It’s horrible!!! And I’m terrified that I didn’t take enough precautions, because I didn’t check the internet until after I was finished for the day, since I’m backwards and dumb like that sometimes. I had garden gloves and long pants/sleeves, and I was ripping those vines out like I wanted them dead. Then I learn I’m supposed to layer myself in rubber bags and gloves and goggles and work slowly and deliberately.
Oops.
No rash yet but I do have a lot of freaked out psychosomatic “OMG is that an itch??” moments which I’m fairly sure I can attribute to pre-existing mosquito bites. The benadryl and calamine lotion are standing by… but if I’m not a blistered mess yet I’m ok… right?
If you yank all the weeds, plant ornamentals, mulch adequately (not more than a couple of inches around the trees, or else you’ll risk smothering the roots) and give the area some attention on a regular basis (maybe 20 minutes or so per week) weeds won’t be a bad problem. If you just replant and forget about things for a month, weeds will be back in force.
These are really the best options. The pine needles dropped make the soil acidic and rhodies and azaleas thrive in acidic shady conditions.
Interesting thread considering the current poison ivy thread. Poison ivy thrives under the shaded acidic conditions under pine trees. It’s probably not ideal shrubbery though.
If those pine trees are not straight, my advice is to get rid of those pine trees before they get bigger. The ‘curly’ trees are not hardy. They can break under snow and wind loads. All pines make a mess with pine needles and cones, falling branches, and can generate copious amounts of pollen. ‘Yellow rain’ is common in my yard where a dozen large pines are growing. Removing pine trees is a pain because of all the sticky resin that gets all over chain saws, wood chippers, and you. Unless the tree is straight, the wood is useless.
The poison ivy thread was actually inspired by this thread. The OP of that thread (Antigen…which is kind of a funny coincidence considering…) just posted a couple of posts up.
Hey look at that. I guess my poison ivy recognition skills exceed my reading comprehension skills :smack: