I have a huge mulberry tree in my back yard. I've built a raised planting area around it with old bricks, 3 courses high. It's in a shaded area of the yard so I've tried so many shade perennials there, but there is one whole side at the base of the tree where nothing will live! I noticed that on that same side of the tree, sap almost perpetually flows into the dirt. I figure that the sap is probably "poisoning" the dirt on that side of the tree. On all other sides I have three varieties of lamium and Loriope, but as you round that bend towards the back of the tree, not even weeds. There is ivy growing "across" the dirt, but I've noticed that it hasn't sent any roots into the soil in the area. Do mulberry trees send out this sap as a survival technique to keep other possible "garden thugs" at bay? Curious. Does anyone have any advise as to any particular perennials that may last? I've tried: astilbe, vinca minor (periwinkle) pachesandra (which is holding its own but not proliferating) If not, I'll just have to be clever with a grouping of a variety of potted plants at varying levels off the ground. Any advise would be appreciated.
I have no advise on what perennial to plant. I do know that it is very unhealthy for the trees to have a bed built over thier roots. It will eventually kill them.
But most trees typically have something growing under them anyway. I'm not trying to plant a "bed" really...just and an interesting ground cover that comes back every year. I may be relegated to just doing some impatiens that will provide green, a brightly colored flower and last spring-fall. Their roots are shallow. The mulberry tree is over 40 tall (taller than my building (4 stories) and its roots go very deep. Oh well, thanks anyway. best, Jim
Does the tree sap have a fowl oder? If so, it sounds like slime flux (also called wetwood). A bacteria that effefts several tree species. Sorry, there is no cure, but look up slime flux and you can kinda, sorta minimize the situation. The sappy bacteria may cause things to not grow. Not what you want to hear, but may help you or others some. Ron
