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Feb 25, 2014 4:18 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Reid
North Branch, MN (Zone 4b)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level
I have a 60 foot tall Blue Spruce, and there are huge roots under it. What are good options for me?
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Feb 25, 2014 4:54 PM CST
Name: Margaret
Near Kamloops, BC, Canada (Zone 3a)
Region: Canadian Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Tip Photographer Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member
Morning Glories Critters Allowed Birds Houseplants Butterflies Garden Photography
Plant choices will depend on how much shade or sun there is under the tree..
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Feb 26, 2014 1:24 AM CST
Name: Caroline Scott
Calgary (Zone 4a)
Bulbs Winter Sowing Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Peonies Lilies Charter ATP Member
Region: Canadian Enjoys or suffers cold winters Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
There are a few plants which grow there.
Perennial geraniums (not pelargoniums)
False Lamium

The roots of the tree can be a problem, so placing containers there may be an option.
Or make small grow areas between the roots?

I am limbing the spruce trees up, so plants would get more light.
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Feb 26, 2014 4:56 AM CST
Name: Gloria Levely
Sanford Mi. (Zone 5b)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Region: United States of America Roses Peonies Region: Michigan
Lilies Irises Hostas Dog Lover Daylilies Clematis
I cut my spruce trees up so there over my head (5) foot the plants are doing much better I have two one on either side of a walk way scared me to do it but I like it much better and the trees are doing great !!
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Feb 26, 2014 9:15 AM CST
Name: Rick R.
Minneapolis,MN, USA z4b,Dfb/a
Garden Photography The WITWIT Badge Seed Starter Wild Plant Hunter Region: Minnesota Hybridizer
Garden Sages I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Epimediums do very well in dry shade or part shade. Easy ones for Minnesota are the clump forming Epimedium x rubrum and the rhizomatous Epimedium x warleyense 'Orangekönigin' (increases 4-6 inches per year).
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers. - Socrates
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Feb 26, 2014 11:08 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Reid
North Branch, MN (Zone 4b)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level
Thanks @Leftwood and @ CarolineScott! These look like great options! Right now I have hosta, 2 hydrangea, creeping ivy, Astilbes, perennial geraniums, bugle weed, and coral bells, and Lamium.
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Feb 26, 2014 11:54 AM CST
Name: Margaret
Near Kamloops, BC, Canada (Zone 3a)
Region: Canadian Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Tip Photographer Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member
Morning Glories Critters Allowed Birds Houseplants Butterflies Garden Photography
Reid, Jacobs Ladder, the variegated has lovely blue flowers in the spring and the green leaved one has pretty white flowers, both have done well under my poplar tree for several years.
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Feb 26, 2014 12:52 PM CST
Name: Rick R.
Minneapolis,MN, USA z4b,Dfb/a
Garden Photography The WITWIT Badge Seed Starter Wild Plant Hunter Region: Minnesota Hybridizer
Garden Sages I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Usually under spruces the soil gets very dry in summer. While Colorado spruce like that (as long as the soil doesn't heat up), you will find that out of what you list, the most thirsty perennials will be the hydrangea and astilbe.
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers. - Socrates
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Feb 26, 2014 7:04 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Reid
North Branch, MN (Zone 4b)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level
I have since learned this @leftwood. They dry out no matter how much I water them, especially the astilbe. I need to put more compost around them.
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Feb 26, 2014 8:00 PM CST
Name: Rick R.
Minneapolis,MN, USA z4b,Dfb/a
Garden Photography The WITWIT Badge Seed Starter Wild Plant Hunter Region: Minnesota Hybridizer
Garden Sages I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Now that you have said that, Reid, I feel I can continue without being accused of being too preachy:

Compost can only help, but is not an answer at all. What little water your able to conserve would be of little use, as the tree will continue to suck the soil dry no matter how much you add. The real solution is to remove the "needy" plants, and replace with compatible materials. Others include Large flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora), hellebores, Astrantia, Aruncus aethusifolius (similar to astilbe), and both the native and European forms of ginger (Asarum).
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers. - Socrates
Avatar for willjwalsh
Jun 30, 2019 6:27 AM CST

We have two pine trees in our front yard and have started to notice swarms of his flying around the ends of the branches, as well as congregating near our front window. Some of the needles look like they're dying, but I'm not expert on trees. Any ideas?
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Avatar for RpR
Jun 30, 2019 1:33 PM CST
Name: Dr. Demento Jr.
Minnesota (Zone 3b)
Find a spray for evergreens that protects against pine beetles and other nasties.
Better to be safe than sorry.
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Jun 30, 2019 3:39 PM CST
Name: Rick R.
Minneapolis,MN, USA z4b,Dfb/a
Garden Photography The WITWIT Badge Seed Starter Wild Plant Hunter Region: Minnesota Hybridizer
Garden Sages I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
If the twigs are swollen where the needles are brown, then you have spruce galls, cause by insects. You will need to research when to spray for prevention. It's not just anytime or all the time.

Your pine trees are actually spruces. That's important for diagnostic purposes.
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers. - Socrates
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Jun 30, 2019 4:04 PM CST
Name: Margaret
Near Kamloops, BC, Canada (Zone 3a)
Region: Canadian Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Tip Photographer Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member
Morning Glories Critters Allowed Birds Houseplants Butterflies Garden Photography
If they are spruce then it could be spruce bud worms. We had them really bad a couple of years ago, it helps to hose the tree off with a strong spray of water.
Avatar for RpR
Aug 15, 2019 6:06 PM CST
Name: Dr. Demento Jr.
Minnesota (Zone 3b)
How did it turn out?
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