What to plant under trees, or how to increase the usable area in a very small area

  • Dec 13, 2020

Many gardeners strive to plant as many vegetable crops as possible on their plot, but the limited area of ​​the dacha does not always allow this. Therefore, the owners of 6 acres are thinking about what to plant under the trees in order to get a good harvest.

The owners of a small plot are thinking about what to plant under the trees to get a good harvest. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
The owners of a small plot are thinking about what to plant under the trees to get a good harvest. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

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Rules for organizing beds under a tree

Most often, several fruit trees grow on a personal plot, casting a strong shadow, which many plants do not like. But, if you correctly break the garden bed near the trunk, you can harvest a good harvest from some vegetable and green crops.

It is recommended to lay the ridge in the near-trunk circle immediately after planting the tree, so that later, when digging the soil, it does not damage its roots, which are located close to the surface.

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If the tree is already mature, before planting other plants nearby, it is necessary to clear the weeds from the near-trunk circle. It is undesirable to make a garden bed around the trunk with a radius of more than 50-70 cm, since it will be difficult to care for it.

If the soil is too acidic, it is necessary to add dolomite flour to it at the rate of 0.5 kg per 1 sq. m. In addition, the soil should be fertilized. You will need about 30 g of urea, 25 g of superphosphate, 20 g of potassium sulfate per 1 sq. m.

When the bed is ready, you can plant shade-loving vegetables on it. All plants should be placed at a distance of 15-20 cm from the trunk so that the root collar of the tree does not come into contact with the tops and is not covered from sunlight.

When seedlings appear, it is recommended to mulch them with hay, cut grass, sawdust to maintain moisture. However, the mulch should not cover the lower part of the trunk, so that the process of decay does not begin and the tree is not damaged.

Garlic and onions grow well under the tree, as they can be successfully placed in the shade. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

What crops can be planted

Most vegetable and berry crops yield a rich harvest only if they receive enough sunlight.

However, garlic and onions grow well under the tree, since they can be successfully placed in the shade. In addition, they have a shallow root system that does not require deep digging of the soil in the garden bed.

Experienced summer residents are advised to plant radishes under tree crowns, which do not like direct sunlight and give a good harvest on soils that remain moist for a long time in gardens. When planted in such a bed, radishes do not require frequent watering.

Pumpkins, squash, squash grow well in the shade of trees. However, they need a lot of space, so it is not recommended to plant more than 3-4 bushes around one trunk.

On such a bed, crucifers feel good, for example, you can plant kohlrabi and broccoli in the near-trunk circle. Also, it is not forbidden to place several bushes of white cabbage seedlings here.

In the shade of the crown, the shoots of tomatoes that remain during pinching easily take root.

Green crops grow well in such conditions, so lettuce, spinach, arugula, dill and sorrel can be planted in the garden. In the shade, they will not bloom and shoot arrows.

It is better not to plant large berry plants under trees - they will become competitors in the struggle for space and nutrients. However, according to experts, in such conditions it is possible to grow small-fruited garden strawberries and strawberries, incl. repairing.

Have you ever made beds under the trees?

Original articleand many other materials, you can find on ourwebsite.

Read about the design of the beds in the following article:DIY beautiful garden beds: how to decorate a garden and grow a good harvest