My small front yard garden (all perennials) is about 6 feet away from
a large, old Norway Maple street tree. While the garden faces south, I
would consider it a part-shade garden. The main problem is the
incredibly invasive tree roots that are literally strangling the life
out of some of my plants. Some of the plants seem to be able to fight
back, but I am getting more and more dead zones in the garden. Any
recommendations for plants that can handle this site,which aren't
totally invasive?

In article ,
(Alison) wrote:

My small front yard garden (all perennials) is about 6 feet away from
a large, old Norway Maple street tree. While the garden faces south, I
would consider it a part-shade garden. The main problem is the
incredibly invasive tree roots that are literally strangling the life
out of some of my plants. Some of the plants seem to be able to fight
back, but I am getting more and more dead zones in the garden. Any
recommendations for plants that can handle this site,which aren't
totally invasive?

Assuming you're in a temperate zone, then:

Epimediums would do fine amidst the maple roots.

Crane's-bills would do well unless you failed to get water to them; the
maple roots can suck them dry otherwise, but wtth sufficient water the
crane's-bills quite naturally grow up near the bases the trees & shrubs.

Hardy cyclamens are adapted for life in just the conditions you outline.
But they come & go seasonally; for more of an evergreen presence, asarum
wild gingers should do great.

For something BIG that should do well, Wallich's Wood Fern or Western
Sword Fern could be very impressive in such a spot.

-paghat the ratgirl

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
See the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/

In article ,
(Alison) wrote:

My small front yard garden (all perennials) is about 6 feet away from
a large, old Norway Maple street tree. While the garden faces south, I
would consider it a part-shade garden. The main problem is the
incredibly invasive tree roots that are literally strangling the life
out of some of my plants. Some of the plants seem to be able to fight
back, but I am getting more and more dead zones in the garden. Any
recommendations for plants that can handle this site,which aren't
totally invasive?

Astro turf and plastic flowers.

Seriously, about the only solution is to put a root barrier down on top
of the soil and then put your perennials in a raised bed above the root
barrier. You can get fabric root barriers from garden center. Then us
garden timbers to define a raised bed and fill it with top soil and use
that. Also, have some branches removed from the Norway maple to give you
more sun if you need it.

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
Visit my Rhododendron and Azalea web pages at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/rhody.html
Also visit the Rhododendron and Azalea Bookstore at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/rhodybooks.html
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman

On Thu, 11 Sep 2003 21:39:23 GMT, "Stephen M. Henning"
wrote:

In article ,
(Alison) wrote:

My small front yard garden (all perennials) is about 6 feet away from
a large, old Norway Maple street tree. While the garden faces south, I
would consider it a part-shade garden. The main problem is the
incredibly invasive tree roots that are literally strangling the life
out of some of my plants. Some of the plants seem to be able to fight
back, but I am getting more and more dead zones in the garden. Any
recommendations for plants that can handle this site,which aren't
totally invasive?


As you have discovered, the Norway Maple is one of the most invasive
trees there are. Not only do the roots invade but volunteers sprout
up everywhere and pretty soon, no trees other than NM.

Hmmmpph. I always thought that Norwegians were a peacable lot who
only bothered fish.

John

Thanks for the advice. I saw your web page while looking up those
ferns. I live in Rhode Island (Zone 6?) Will they work here? Also, any
particular kind of cranesbill? My "Johnson's Blue" is not doing too
well there--floppy and not too many blooms.

Epimediums would do fine amidst the maple roots.

Crane's-bills would do well unless you failed to get water to them; the
maple roots can suck them dry otherwise, but wtth sufficient water the
crane's-bills quite naturally grow up near the bases the trees & shrubs.

Hardy cyclamens are adapted for life in just the conditions you outline.
But they come & go seasonally; for more of an evergreen presence, asarum
wild gingers should do great.

For something BIG that should do well, Wallich's Wood Fern or Western
Sword Fern could be very impressive in such a spot.

-paghat the ratgirl

(Alison) wrote in message m...
Thanks for the advice. I saw your web page while looking up those
ferns. I live in Rhode Island (Zone 6?) Will they work here? Also, any
particular kind of cranesbill? My "Johnson's Blue" is not doing too
well there--floppy and not too many blooms.

Most cranesbills will do fine in zone 6. I have a disappointing
"Johnson's Blue" as well, & have seen many other complaints about from
a cranesbill e-list. Apparently many things labeled "Johnson's Blue"
are only approximations & not the real strain, & the majority are
inferior for bloom. Ones that perform extremely well include
"Patricia" "Lilac Plenum" "Victor Reiter Jr" & "Rozanne."

As for Wallich's Woodfern in zone 6, it'll do well down to zone 5, but
I don't think it would be evergreen as it is here in zone 8. It's
possible the common, smaller "Deer Fern" would still be evergreen even
in zone 6.

-paghat the ratgirl


Epimediums would do fine amidst the maple roots.

Crane's-bills would do well unless you failed to get water to them; the
maple roots can suck them dry otherwise, but wtth sufficient water the
crane's-bills quite naturally grow up near the bases the trees & shrubs.

Hardy cyclamens are adapted for life in just the conditions you outline.
But they come & go seasonally; for more of an evergreen presence, asarum
wild gingers should do great.

For something BIG that should do well, Wallich's Wood Fern or Western
Sword Fern could be very impressive in such a spot.

-paghat the ratgirl