Use your garden space more effectively by underplanting feature plants in a subtle manner.

The What and Why of Underplanting

Underplanting as the name suggests is putting one plant under the stem, leaves or trunk of a larger plant. The effect if to have layers of plants as you might expect to find in nature. The effect also gives more comprehensive soil cover. It can help moisture retention eg using low water consuming plants like succulents.

Underplanting may help you grow crops when space is tight eg. Alpine strawberries under fruit trees other things tend to do poorly or act as weeds taking moisture and goodness from the fruit trees.

Many  examples of  using smaller plants such as ferns or perennial geraniums under the canopy of a trees exist.The picture shows a Phormium under planted with Bellis low flowering Daises.

Try autumn crocus under Flowering Cherry trees for varied interest later in the year. Obviously spring crocus are often grown underplanted with trees and shrubs but keep yellows and blues separate.

Lacy foliage of birch allows an amount of light for small plants to grow, hardy Cyclamen hederifolium or coum grow well under trees needing little moisture.

Naturalised bulbs like Narcissus look stunning beneath smaller trees and shrubs. Even better if they flower before the shrub takes centre stage.

Dwarf varieties of Lavender are suitable for planting under roses or garlic may keep away aphids.

Some gardeners have used poached egg flowers Limnanthes douglasii as ground cover under the fruit because it tends to flower the same time as the fruit trees and therefore brings insects in from far and wide which, in turn, help to pollinate the fruit.

Getting Ready for Underplanting
For an existing garden raising tree and shrub canopies will allow light and rain to reach the ground.  Remove the lowest branches, and cut out any badly placed, dead or diseased stems. Under plant later.
Reducing competition at root level is important when improving the soil. Do not be afraid to cut out a few roots to help loosen the soil.

Keep under planting simple. Think about keep under planting in sympathy between the plants so they are not fighting for the same resources of food, water, shelter and light.

Make a plan and select complimentary plants that do not require a great amount of feed or can grow in poor soil conditions.

Think about conflicts eg plan the colour schemes before under planting. The right flowers will complement ech other eg pink Bellis with blue Californian lilac flower at the same time and look good. Rock roses under climbers like Clematis or Honeysuckle.