The Central Valley is abundant with old and beautiful Oak trees. If you have one in your yard, you may wonder if you can plant under Oaks. The good news is that you can! With proper plant placement and selection, you can create a beautiful landscape under the tree.
Here are some guidelines for planting under trees:
1. Do not plant too close to the tree trunk. It’s best to space plants at least 10 feet away from the trunk so you won’t disturb the roots.
2. Avoid planting large plants under trees. Stick to anything smaller than a one-gallon plant to prevent injuring the roots.
3. Since it’s usually shady under trees, you can choose shade-tolerant plants or thin the tree’s lower branches to allow more sunlight to reach the plants.
4. Water your new plants using drip irrigation. Drip irrigation allows for deep, consistent watering. It also waters the soil, not the plant’s leaves, which can help prevent diseases like downy mildew.
Now, the fun part….choosing plants! (Fall is the best time of year for planting; read more here.) Let’s take a look at which plants we can plant under Oaks.
Achillea
Achillea millefolium, or Yarrow, is a lush California native plant that produces flowers multiple times a year. The flowers are white, pink, orange, and yellow. The flowers can also be dried and used in dried floral arrangements like wreaths.
Ferns
Ferns are an excellent option for under oaks because they can withstand the shade and, if irrigated sufficiently, look lush all year long.
Heuchera
Heuchera or Coral Bells are another plant that looks great year-round for their colorful foliage. Depending on the variety, the plants will bloom tall, delicate white or pink flowers in spring.
Nepeta
While needing a little more sun than others, Nepeta or Catmint is an excellent groundcover if you are looking for a pollinator-loving plant. Easy to care for, they only need to be cut back once a year after the first bloom in spring to be able to enjoy a second bloom all summer long.
Penstemon
Also needing a little more sun than ferns or Heuchera, Penstemon, or Beardtongue. It boasts beautiful, tall flowers in red, pink, or purple.
Hosta
Hostas are a great filler plant for shade gardens. Their bright variegated leaves look attractive in combination with other lush plants like Heucheras. Hostas do go dormant in winter, so if you need winter interest, try adding cyclamen for color.
Azalea
Azaleas keep their leaves year-round and explode with flowers in spring. Pink, red, purple, and white flowers cover the plant, providing a big show under trees. Azaleas grow best in acidic soil, which you can create by adding a bag of acidic soil when planting.
Annuals
Annuals like pansies or violas, cyclamen, snapdragons, and impatiens are all great annuals for under Oaks as they do not have deep roots but add a lot of color! Stop by The Greenery Nursery to see which annuals we have in stock for the season!
Photos provided by Proven Winners.
