Morning Light: The Fetchland Gardening Wire
77 watchers
Feb 2020
7:57am, 11 Feb 2020
42,881 posts
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alpenrose
A magnolia in full bloom.
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Feb 2020
2:08pm, 13 Feb 2020
502 posts
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BexleyKev
I have just taken over a plot within a municipal park, circular with a very mature drooping Pine tree in the top southwestern section that casts shade in front and half of the plot behind it. it seems to have a lot of sedums emerging but little sign of anything else. No spring bulb/flowers showing. I would like to develop this into a wildlife garden any tips on what I can plant - particularly in the semi/shade areas around the tree?
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Feb 2020
2:15pm, 13 Feb 2020
503 posts
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BexleyKev
The plot fetcheveryone.com/gallery-showphoto.php?id=111289
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Feb 2020
7:50am, 14 Feb 2020
42,920 posts
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alpenrose
I wouldn't think that you'd get too much to grow under that Kev.
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Feb 2020
8:13am, 14 Feb 2020
18,951 posts
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Dvorak
Can you do anything with the tree? I'd start by trimming the lower branches. I suspect the ground might be pretty dry, partly due to the cover but also the tree effectively drinking nearly all the water. Chuck in some wildflower mix this year and see how things grow? And some nasturtiums, which seem to prefer poorer soils.
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Feb 2020
5:38pm, 14 Feb 2020
19,241 posts
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Columba
You could overcome the "poor soil" problem by growing in containers; but in a public park the containers might "walk" unless they were very heavy. And some plants are shade lovers: ferns being the obvious example; also astilbes and periwinkles. Nasturtiums like sunshine, but part of your plot gets sunshine, I think?
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Feb 2020
6:16pm, 14 Feb 2020
504 posts
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BexleyKev
Thanks - the tree is untouchable - although some of the lower branches look frail enough to 'drop'. Absolutely correct about things walking out of the park although the opposite has happened with this bed - someone planted a rose and left ashes. This part of the park had been neglected for a few years and the council planned to grass it over but allowed a group of local volunteers to take over the management. Spent time assessing the sun - the back gets a considerable amount in the morning and then later in the evening. I have now put in some Aconites, bluebells, winter anemones and cyclamen to see how they get on plus a clump of wild garlic and primroses. Also a few green shoots starting to appear that are ( i am advised ) Sedums and Euphorbia. Time will tell.
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Feb 2020
9:04pm, 14 Feb 2020
11,999 posts
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Cerrertonia
One of the problems with pine trees is that they have a lot of very shallow roots and they tend to out-compete plants underneath for water & nutrients. Do you have an idea of how dry it gets? Sedums & Euphorbia will cope with fairly dry conditions in summer. Ferns & astilbes typically like it to be a good bit wetter.
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Feb 2020
11:16pm, 14 Feb 2020
6,351 posts
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sallykate
Wild garlic is very invasive and may take over. Alchemilla mollis tolerates shade in my garden. What exactly are you aiming for in terms of a “wildlife garden”?
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Feb 2020
12:53pm, 15 Feb 2020
19,247 posts
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Columba
Alchemical mollis tolerates everything in my garden, and threatens to take over the whole area. It is attractive, though.
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