Underplanting around trees, especially crabapple trees, offers both aesthetic and practical advantages for any garden space. Thoughtful plant selections can transform a bare area beneath the tree canopy into a vibrant, layered landscape. This practice enhances visual appeal, adding depth and interest to the garden. Beyond beauty, underplanting helps suppress weed growth and can contribute to better soil health, creating a more cohesive and thriving ecosystem.
Understanding the Crabapple Underplanting Environment
The environment directly beneath a crabapple tree presents specific challenges that influence plant survival and growth. The tree’s canopy creates varying light conditions, ranging from dappled sunlight to partial or even full shade, depending on the time of day and the tree’s leaf density. As the season progresses and the canopy leafs out fully, the amount of light reaching the ground significantly decreases.
Crabapple trees, like many established trees, have extensive root systems that aggressively compete for water and nutrients in the surrounding soil. This intense competition can make it difficult for underplanted species to establish and thrive. The soil beneath established trees often experiences compaction and may also be depleted of nutrients over time. Furthermore, the tree’s canopy can intercept rainfall, leading to drier conditions directly under the tree, even during periods of precipitation.
Key Considerations for Plant Selection
Selecting plants for under a crabapple tree requires careful consideration of specific plant characteristics. Prioritize species that tolerate shade, as light levels will be significantly reduced beneath the tree’s canopy once it is fully leafed out.
Choose plants with low water and nutrient requirements, as they can better withstand the intense root competition from the crabapple. Drought-tolerant species are ideal, and it is important to select plants with non-aggressive root systems to minimize further interference with the tree’s own roots.
Consider species that adapt well to compacted or nutrient-depleted soil. Ensure the mature size of underplanted species does not overcrowd or overshadow the tree’s lower branches. Select plants not prone to diseases or pests that could spread to the crabapple, which helps maintain the overall health of the tree.
Recommended Plants for Underplanting
The right plant choices can transform the area beneath a crabapple tree into an appealing and functional space.
Groundcovers
Groundcovers are excellent for suppressing weeds and providing continuous visual interest.
- Vinca minor (periwinkle) is a tough, low-maintenance perennial with glossy evergreen leaves and star-shaped flowers, thriving in partial to full shade.
- Ajuga (bugleweed) is a low-growing spreader that forms a dense mat, with some varieties offering colorful foliage in shades of bronze, purple, or burgundy.
- Pachysandra (Japanese spurge) is another popular evergreen groundcover that thrives in partial to full shade and can tolerate dry conditions once established.
Shade-Loving Perennials
Shade-loving perennials offer texture and seasonal color.
- Hostas are known for their varied foliage in terms of texture, size, shape, and color. Most hostas perform well with some morning sun or filtered light, and varieties with blue foliage require more shade to retain their color.
- Ferns, with their delicate, feathery fronds, bring natural elegance to shaded areas and prefer rich, well-drained soils.
- Bleeding hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) are an excellent choice for shady areas, producing unique, heart-shaped blooms in spring.
Spring-Flowering Bulbs
Spring-flowering bulbs provide early season color before the crabapple canopy fully develops.
- Snowdrops (Galanthus) are one of the earliest spring flowers, blooming even through snow, and are well-suited for planting under deciduous trees where they receive sun before leaf-out.
- Crocuses thrive in light shade under deciduous trees, adding splashes of color.
- Early daffodils can tolerate some shade, particularly if they receive morning sun.
Annuals
Annuals provide temporary, vibrant color throughout the growing season.
- Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) are highly valued for their shade tolerance and continuous blooms, making them a popular choice for adding color in shady spots.
- Begonias are another versatile annual for shade, with many varieties offering colorful blooms and attractive foliage. Tuberous and Rieger begonias, in particular, prefer little to no direct light.
Practical Planting and Care Tips
Proper planting and ongoing care are important for the success of underplantings around crabapple trees. When preparing the soil, gently amend it with compost to improve fertility and drainage, avoiding deep digging that could damage the tree’s roots. It is best to avoid disturbing the crabapple’s root system as much as possible.
When planting, dig shallow holes and carefully place the new plants, ensuring their root balls are level with the surrounding soil. Adequate spacing between plants allows for air circulation and future growth. Initial watering after planting is crucial to help new plants establish, and consistent watering strategies should be maintained, especially during dry periods, to ensure the underplants receive sufficient moisture despite root competition from the tree.
Applying a layer of mulch around the base of the underplants helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. It is important to keep the mulch a few inches away from the crabapple’s trunk to prevent moisture buildup and potential rot. Fertilization should be minimal or avoided, as the crabapple tree’s nutrient needs should be prioritized, and excessive fertilizer could harm the tree or encourage unwanted growth. Regular, light pruning of the underplants helps maintain their shape and prevents them from overgrowing, while also allowing for checks for any signs of pests or diseases.
Plants to Avoid Under Crabapple Trees
Certain plants are unsuitable for underplanting crabapple trees due to their growth habits and competitive nature. Avoid highly invasive species that spread aggressively, as they can quickly outcompete both the crabapple and other desirable underplants. Some varieties of Pachysandra terminalis, while useful in certain settings, can be aggressive spreaders and are considered invasive in some regions.
Plants with high water or nutrient demands should also be avoided, as they would compete too much with the established crabapple tree for these resources. Species with aggressive root systems, such as many types of bamboo or certain ornamental grasses, can directly interfere with the crabapple’s root zone, potentially causing stress or damage to the tree. Plants known to be susceptible to common tree diseases or those that host pests that could spread to crabapples should also be excluded to maintain the overall health of the tree and garden.