How to Plant Under Pine Trees
Planting under pine trees is a real challenge. You not only have to contend with the shade, which sharply limits what you can grow, but also the constant shower of pine needles, which have a high acid content. But that doesn't mean you need to keep nothing more than a mound of dirt underneath your pine trees. Several plants can function quite well there, and with the proper preparation, you just might find yourself with a lovely pine tree garden.
Find plants that can stand the shade and acidity of living under a pine tree. Azaleas and rhododendrons are known to thrive in both shade and acidic soil, while hydrangeas, which are typically pink in most gardens, sport bright blue flowers when planted in acidic soil. They also like the shade, which makes them ideal candidates.
- Planting under pine trees is a real challenge.
- You not only have to contend with the shade, which sharply limits what you can grow, but also the constant shower of pine needles, which have a high acid content.
Dig a hole twice as big and twice as wide as the root ball of the plant you're going to put under the pine tree. Fill the bottom half of the hole with good topsoil. Pine trees sap a lot of nutrients out of the ground, so it's up to you to put them back in. A good place to start is by adding topsoil with lots of organic matter to the existing dirt.
Place your new plant on the topsoil and center it in the hole. Fill in the rest of the hole with topsoil. Spread pine needles around the plant, using it as mulch to retain water. Water thoroughly.
- Dig a hole twice as big and twice as wide as the root ball of the plant you're going to put under the pine tree.
- A good place to start is by adding topsoil with lots of organic matter to the existing dirt.
Tip
To broaden your options, you can neutralize the soil around your pine tree. Because of the acidity of the pine needles, this is going to be an ongoing process. Start by performing a soil test to determine just how acidic your soil really is, then add the prescribed amount of lime according to the instructions on the bag (the more acid in the soil, the more lime, although generally you'll use between one and two pounds per square yard). Let the lime work its way into the soil for several months, which is why it is a good idea to lime in the fall, let it sit over winter and then plant in the spring.
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Writer Bio
Thomas K. Arnold is publisher and editorial director of "Home Media Magazine" and a regular contributor to "Variety." He is a former editorial writer for U-T San Diego. He also has written for "San Diego Magazine," "USA Today" and the Copley News Service. Arnold attended San Diego State University.
