All the Dirt on Gardening

Many gardeners consider the space under trees, next to solid fences, and close to buildings difficult to use because they lack of full sun. There are, however, many beautiful perennial plants and shrubs that can succeed in part-shade.. To increase the amount of sunlight available under trees, remove the lowest limbs and prune out some branches, allowing light to shine through to the ground. Tree roots and building foundations absorb a lot of available moisture and can also stress plants. Improve the soil moisture retention by adding organic materials and top dressing the area with mulch to reduce evaporation. A drip irrigation system can also be a big help. Five Star Hibiscus Shade-loving plants usually have roots, rhizomes, tubers or stems that store water plus they tend to lose less moisture through their leaves than other plants. The leaves of low-light varieties usually emerge early in the season before the trees leaf out above them. Garden centers plants have t...

Vinca minor and Periwinkle now have to exit our garden as we eliminate invasive plants in favor of native plants.  They are invasive but for a change not from Asian countries, but this time from southern Switzerland southward around much of the Mediterranean basin, from Portugal to Turkey, and across much of north Africa according to www.invasivespecies.IN.gov . Vinca minor They were introduced as a medicinal herb and as an ornamental ground cover. Planting alternatives, will depend on where you live. At the IN. gov site they recommend Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata) Palm Sedge (Carex muskingumensis) Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)   But! As you and I both know, those desirables are much more difficult to become established and provide ground cover and weed prevention.