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Plants for under oak trees?
Posted on 3/15/20 at 4:34 pm
Posted on 3/15/20 at 4:34 pm
I have 5 large oak trees in the front yard. Basically patchy Augustine everywhere. What would you suggest as plants under the oak trees. Originally I was thinking a ground cover like Jasmine but I also was thinking actual flower beds. I really don’t have any good visual ideas. Thanks
8
Posted on 3/15/20 at 4:46 pm to oilattorney4lsu
Asian jasmine is good. You can make circular flower beds and line with mondo grass or lotion. As far as grass goes you may want to look at geo zoysia. It can grow in 3-4 hours of indirect sunlight
Posted on 3/15/20 at 6:29 pm to oilattorney4lsu
Asian jasmine is nitrogen depleting, and not healthy for your tree, inspite of what everyone does. Use monkey grass instead. Many plants for dark areas. Christmas Berry, mahonia, hydrangeas, sagos, philodendrons, hostas. There are more than you think, if you get creative.
This post was edited on 3/16/20 at 7:31 am
Posted on 3/15/20 at 7:09 pm to oilattorney4lsu
Iron plants. Azaleas
Posted on 3/15/20 at 7:52 pm to oilattorney4lsu
Hostas
Posted on 3/16/20 at 6:41 am to oilattorney4lsu
Monkey grass is great if you want ground cover. As mentioned Hostas do well, Holly ferns, impatiens and iron plants.
Posted on 3/16/20 at 10:09 am to oilattorney4lsu
I have a friend with six mature live live oak trees and mondo grass (monkey grass) thrives under those trees and I think it looks nice. Asian jasmine as mentioned is hardy and does well, but might be a little more work to contain, keep trimmed, etc. Cast iron plants have been mentioned and I think they look nice, but I often see those under trees that get a tad too much sun and many turn brown temporarily and have a “ragged, dying look”, so I’d take that into consideration particular for a street view.
Others mentioned hostas, and I love hostas, but be advised hostas don’t thrive in zone 9 like you’ll see in pics in magazines. Most hosta cultivars need a colder dormancy period in winter than we get in zone 9 to thrive. The LSU AgCenter Hammond Horticultural Research Station have done research trials on hosta cultivars that do best in our area and that info in available on-line. “So-Sweet” is a variegated cultivar that does well in our climate and I have some of those.
Sword Ferns are another option that seem to do well under live oaks.
Anyway, as others have said, you have a number of options you can consider.
Others mentioned hostas, and I love hostas, but be advised hostas don’t thrive in zone 9 like you’ll see in pics in magazines. Most hosta cultivars need a colder dormancy period in winter than we get in zone 9 to thrive. The LSU AgCenter Hammond Horticultural Research Station have done research trials on hosta cultivars that do best in our area and that info in available on-line. “So-Sweet” is a variegated cultivar that does well in our climate and I have some of those.
Sword Ferns are another option that seem to do well under live oaks.
Anyway, as others have said, you have a number of options you can consider.
This post was edited on 3/16/20 at 1:41 pm
Posted on 3/16/20 at 10:19 am to CrawDude
Agree that it’s too hot for hostas in most of Louisiana. They will look terrible and eventually die in hot, wet weather.
Posted on 3/17/20 at 2:21 pm to hungryone
Wrong
Posted on 3/17/20 at 3:07 pm to oilattorney4lsu
quote:
Jasmine
Don't do it.
Plant some ruffle azaleas, holly ferns, stromanthe, caladiums, and mix in some potato vine.
azaleas in a circle around the tree closest to tree
in front and in b/t the azaleas
in circle around azaleas and ferns (will freeze and grow slowly so you may choose another option but they're beautiful)
in b/t the stromanthe
can add seasonal annuals in front and plant the potato vine at the food of the circular bed
trims easily and grows back quickly
*** if you need a little height and a little more color plant a few Red Sister Cordyline behind but in b/t the azaleas (will also freeze, can leave in pots and bring in during winter). *****
Posted on 3/18/20 at 1:04 pm to 91TIGER
quote:
91TIGER
Nice photos and suggestions
Have a neighbor few doors down the street that has 2 large red oaks with heavy summer shade that was having lawn grass issues. They hired a landscaper who put in simple design of new beds around the trees planted only with variegated flax lily with caladiums (warm weather) and pansies (cool season), heavy mulched with pine straw. Looks great. I thought flax lily would require more sun than what they seem to receive but 2 years in they look great and they really stand out in the shaded areas.
Posted on 3/18/20 at 9:20 pm to oilattorney4lsu
Are you going to put down a border?
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