How close can I plant under my trees? I have a sweet gum ( I think, those trees that get the little spiked balls on them, not a sycamore though), and a hemlock and some other tree I don't know what it is. They are planted kind of in a triangle, really too close to each other, maybe 15 foot apart. There is nice shade there and nothing is growing underneath, pretty dusty. I would like to circle the entire area with stones and fill it in with compost and plant hosta and then add some large accent rocks and maybe some azaleas. I am worried that adding compost over the roots will kill the trees. I am also concerned that the trees will just root right up into the new soil and choke out the new plants.
If I plant out toward the drip-line, there isn't any shade there. I though about planting larger shrubs and such that would better compete with the tree roots and then I wouldn't have to add soil, but could just pant them directly into what is there now. Can I plant hostas in pots and sink them under some mulch? I wonder if the potted hostas would survive the winter, zone 6a.
I just don't know anything about shade gardening much and working around trees. With my last house, we cut the trees down. But we just bought this place and moved and I don't want to cut the trees this time unless I have to. I do plan on living at this house long term though not just temporarily. I don't want to harm the trees, but I want a garden and I don't know how to do it!
