best type for extreme shade..

Def Hooker – posted 29 June 2005 07:25

i have two very large magnolias(53years old) in my front yard. coastal, SC. they shade out everything and drop huge dead leaves constantly.

is there anything green that will grow under these things? what type or approach would be best for acheiving some kind of turf? the soil seems to be in pretty good shape, but even weeds wont grow.

is this a lost cause?

ted – posted 29 June 2005 08:13

extreme shade = extreme landscaping. grass generally doesn’t work in these situations.

Def Hooker – posted 29 June 2005 08:24

10-4. thats what ive been told by many. coulnt hurt to ask.thanks for your response ted.

tallahassee lassie – posted 29 June 2005 08:50

You could try Wandering Jew if it lives in your area. My friend has been trying to get it to stop growing UNDER HER PORCH. She keeps ripping it out by the roots and it comes back. It’s a vine but will provide ground cover.

Katie

QWERTY – posted 29 June 2005 09:04

Pull out a chainsaw!

Def Hooker – posted 29 June 2005 09:36

chainsaw would be super but the city wont allow them to go b/c theyre over 50 years old. the histerical society is killing me.not sure about wandering jew in this zone but will look into it. i have something similar that has covered the ground of a shaded dogpen outback, so maybe i’ll try transplanting some cuttings of that. i think its the constant leaves dropping that are killing everything below though.thanks for the replies folks..much appreciated.

Georgia girl – posted 07 July 2005 16:54

I’m going to try ajuga in the dense shade of a pecan tree. It won’t stand up to traffic, but it does grow in the shade.

Georgia girl – posted 07 July 2005 16:57

quote:Originally posted by Def Hooker:i have two very large magnolias(53years old) in my front yard. coastal, SC. they shade out everything and drop huge dead leaves constantly.

is there anything green that will grow under these things? what type or approach would be best for acheiving some kind of turf? the soil seems to be in pretty good shape, but even weeds wont grow.

is this a lost cause?

DJ – posted 09 July 2005 13:06

I think ivy would do very well in this situation.

ttylert – posted 19 July 2008 11:55

Have you tested the PH of the soil in question? I would suspect a highly acidic soil! I suggest a soil test and correction to match the desires of whichever shade loving plant you choose. Please repost the soil test results if you go that route so we will all know. I am curious!

Def Hooker – posted 22 July 2008 06:11

wound up renting the place and moving to a more managable turf situation.

but yes it would have needed a whole new 4″ of topsoil or more where the roots were surfacing.

the leaf drop on those things is ridiculous. people love them and i never want to see another one. 25 bags a week in hot summertime, no thanks.

Almaroad – posted 02 August 2008 15:39

Magnolias are probably the most acid producing trees alive. The PH is probably somewhere around 4.0. The Historical Society will not allow you to cut them down but nothing states that you cannot limb them up some 20′ to let some light into the grass. If that be done, the you’ll going to have to lime like crazy or base plant them with azaleas and other acid loving plants.

BJH – posted 29 September 2008 05:14

Sometimes you just have to admit defeat and mulch the area and put in some shade and acid loving ground cover. Magnolias are beautiful trees but they are about the messiest trees known to man.