If the garden is green and blooming on several levels, the planting plan is a creative hit. The skillful planting of tree slices makes an important contribution in order to imaginatively close the visual gaps between the crowns and the ground. Of course, not all plants can cope with the special lighting conditions and root pressure at this location. This guide introduces you to suitable species and varieties for planting tree discs.
Which plants are suitable for planting tree discs?
In order to successfully plant a tree slice, plants should be chosen that suit the site conditions. Balkan cranesbill or Japanese decorative fern are suitable for the shady area near the trunk, while dwarf hostas or purple bells are recommended for the outer, lighter ring.
Choose tree disc planting professionally – this is how it works
Different climatic conditions prevail on tree slices in the smallest of spaces. Dry shade dominates near the trunk on the northern side. Along the outer tree disc, the lighting conditions brighten and the soil is moister. If you take these conditions into account when choosing plants, the entire tree will shine with floral splendor. The following overview presents recommended species and varieties in more detail:
Location: Close to the trunk with a northern orientation
- Balkan cranesbill (Geranium macrorrhizum)
- Japanese ornamental fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Metallicum')
- Hellebore, palm leaf (Helleborus foetidus)
- Forest poppy (Meconopsis cambrica)
Location: Middle to outer tree disc
- Dwarf hostas (Hosta minor)
- Purple bells (Heuchera villosa 'Berry Smoothie')
- Astrantia major
- Cloveroot (Geum coccineum)
- Japan sedge (Carex morrowii 'Variegata').
If you look for extremely easy-care plants for greening tree discs, the evergreen ground cover creeping honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata) and creeping spindle (Euonymus fortunei) will come into focus. The deciduous counterpart with equally modest requirements is the low purple berry (Symphoricarpos x chenaultii), which thrives equally well in sun and full shade and gives the cold shoulder to any root pressure.
Specialists for shallow-rooted trees
The most popular trees for the front garden are shallow-rooted, such as the wonderful globe maple 'Globosum'. Where there are strong root strands directly below the surface of the earth, floral specialists are required to plant the tree disc. Periwinkle (Vinca minor), elf flowers (Epimedium) and golden strawberries (Waldsteinia ternata) fulfill this special order with flying colors.
Planting a tree slice – looking over the shoulder of guerrilla gardeners
Empty city and municipal coffers result in unsightly trees along the streets. The residents no longer wanted to tolerate the dreariness of weeds growing under trees and were increasingly taking the planting into their own hands. The results are so promising that many local authorities are even encouraging the guerrilla gardeners to carry out further planting campaigns. What is interesting for home gardeners is that the following plant species have proven themselves well on tree slices:
- Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea)
- Concardium flowers (Agrostemma githago)
- Panicle foxtail (Amaranthus cruentus)
- Marigolds (Calendula officinalis)
- Fingered Larkspur (Corydalis solida)
Gardening activists are now moving away from using ivy (Hedera helix) as a tree disc plant. The strong-growing ground cover is unsuitable for the limited space in inner-city areas. Home gardeners benefit from this knowledge and also do not use ivy as underplanting for house trees in the front yard or small garden.
Tip
The walnut tree relies on a clever defense strategy against root competition on its tree disk. The autumn leaves are full of germ-inhibiting substances that make life difficult for any underplanting. In order to showcase walnut trees decoratively, we recommend a mulch layer made of colored pine bark or paving with small paving stones that is gentle on the roots.