Fall & Gardening Under the Mighty Oaks
The fall is not my favorite time of the year. When you live under mighty Oak Trees that tower behind and around your home, the leaves and acorns are -to say the least-overwhelming. I have had my trees trimmed up to the top canopy and still have no less than 4 truckloads (in the fall and 2 loads in spring) to the compost at the landfill. On my 1/4+ acre subdivision lot I have 13 Oaks at least 40-60' tall in and around my yard. Every other year, acorn trees produce over 4 tons of acorns in the fall and another ton or more in the spring. How do I know it is 4 tons? I have a super duty F250 which will haul, without squatting, a ton; and the 8' bed filled with acorns makes her squat with the springs flat.
So you ask, cut down some trees? Well, I live in a planned community where cutting down trees is not welcomed and you could say it is a sin-- without permission (if they grant it). I was fortunate and they did when we first bought the house and we took out 5 trees. I even had them trimmed about 3 years ago over 50% against the advice of my tree guy -hoping to kill one of them so I could take it down. Ha. Nothing dies for me so here I am surrounded by mighty Oaks which, do not get me wrong, are beautiful in someone else's yard.
Living under Oaks causes many dilemmas when it comes to growing non-acid loving plants. Shoot, there are only so many hours of daylight that can turn a once barren yard into the setting I have today. I am lucky. I have shown many other neighbors how to work with what they have. As I tell them, you cannot fight Mother Nature and you cannot expect a sun plant to grow in the shade. Of course, they see what I grow and expect the same results. I tell them~ I have a super green thumb. I can give you plants, give you tips, but ultimately it is up to you to treat them like you would your children or pets. You cannot just pluck them in the ground and expect them to survive. I go on to add that gardening should be a passion and a love reached out to nature. If you do not love gardening, you cannot expect great results.
Over the years I have had to tame the "thumb" because I was running out of space. This is okay because I give many plants away when I find another to replace it. I rarely buy full price and most often take home the markdown, almost dead plants. I cannot help it. There are certain things you cannot bring back to their original beauty but many perennials, trees, and deciduous bushes you can. I currently have several rose bushes I have acquired by clearing out a neighbor's yard or that were given to me because they would not grow. HMMM. I have Oaks. Roses and Oaks do not like each other~so I was told. However, I have several of them that I planted under Oaks because I had no where else to put them and they are growing! I even have several Arborvitae growing next to Oaks and my neighbor cannot get one to grow past 3' in the same situation.
I am writing this for the the beginner gardener or even the person who is about to give up because they cannot get something to grow. You can buy all the gardening books you want and listen to advice on the do's and don'ts but I am here to tell you that is not always the way it works. I grow many things that by the all reason should not grow where I put it. I believe a lot of it may be my passion for plants, for nature, and for beauty of it all. I have had this since I was a little girl when I would cry if my mother killed a plant (which she would a lot). We all have passion for something or life would not be worth repeating every day. So with the same passion that you love your children, your dog, your cat, or your spouse/partner extend that to your gardening. Yes, talking to your plants or treating them with love does pay off and the pics are proof that gardening is not always by "the book".
So you ask, cut down some trees? Well, I live in a planned community where cutting down trees is not welcomed and you could say it is a sin-- without permission (if they grant it). I was fortunate and they did when we first bought the house and we took out 5 trees. I even had them trimmed about 3 years ago over 50% against the advice of my tree guy -hoping to kill one of them so I could take it down. Ha. Nothing dies for me so here I am surrounded by mighty Oaks which, do not get me wrong, are beautiful in someone else's yard.
Living under Oaks causes many dilemmas when it comes to growing non-acid loving plants. Shoot, there are only so many hours of daylight that can turn a once barren yard into the setting I have today. I am lucky. I have shown many other neighbors how to work with what they have. As I tell them, you cannot fight Mother Nature and you cannot expect a sun plant to grow in the shade. Of course, they see what I grow and expect the same results. I tell them~ I have a super green thumb. I can give you plants, give you tips, but ultimately it is up to you to treat them like you would your children or pets. You cannot just pluck them in the ground and expect them to survive. I go on to add that gardening should be a passion and a love reached out to nature. If you do not love gardening, you cannot expect great results.
Over the years I have had to tame the "thumb" because I was running out of space. This is okay because I give many plants away when I find another to replace it. I rarely buy full price and most often take home the markdown, almost dead plants. I cannot help it. There are certain things you cannot bring back to their original beauty but many perennials, trees, and deciduous bushes you can. I currently have several rose bushes I have acquired by clearing out a neighbor's yard or that were given to me because they would not grow. HMMM. I have Oaks. Roses and Oaks do not like each other~so I was told. However, I have several of them that I planted under Oaks because I had no where else to put them and they are growing! I even have several Arborvitae growing next to Oaks and my neighbor cannot get one to grow past 3' in the same situation.
I am writing this for the the beginner gardener or even the person who is about to give up because they cannot get something to grow. You can buy all the gardening books you want and listen to advice on the do's and don'ts but I am here to tell you that is not always the way it works. I grow many things that by the all reason should not grow where I put it. I believe a lot of it may be my passion for plants, for nature, and for beauty of it all. I have had this since I was a little girl when I would cry if my mother killed a plant (which she would a lot). We all have passion for something or life would not be worth repeating every day. So with the same passion that you love your children, your dog, your cat, or your spouse/partner extend that to your gardening. Yes, talking to your plants or treating them with love does pay off and the pics are proof that gardening is not always by "the book".
This poor mum has been trampled repeatedly by my dogs but it still bloomed.
It is November and the Toad Lilies are still at it
I moved my Encore Azaleas this summer to under another Oak from the front bed along the drive. They were not performing and I thought they were too plain. They have bloomed most of the summer and fall.
I have 2 types of yellow mums and this one started blooming a couple weeks ago
Yes, black eyed susan which decided to grow and bloom from seeds I had sown this summer
The mighty Oaks towering behind my 2 story colonial
When we moved here there were 3 mighty Oaks in the front yard
My newest area that I have been putting together. Arborvitaes line the property line for screening
My side yard where the hostas are slowly fading and the leaves are quickly piling up
Hostas are fading but the ferns, Toad Lily, and Coral Bells are not.
My Japanese Maple which I rescued 3 years.
My Japanese Maple under an Oak tree.
My Ninebark turning from purple to this beautiful red
Grass where it was once hard, barren, red clay.
Even one of my baby Salvia decided to bloom later.
My knockouts are still pushing blooms.
The old dogwood turning to a majestic red. She produced 2 babies this year which I carefully transplanted.
A late blooming blanket flower
Knockouts~this one is proof that if caught in time you can save it from Rosette disease!
Sedum with its deep red and the bright yellow of the mums
Another rose I planted here because only place that got at least 6 hours of sun. It is in the crook of the Oak root. and the 3 Knockouts are to the right which are going strong
This rose looks like nothing but when I found it a couple months ago in a yard I cleaned up it had only 1 leaf. And it is under an Oak tree now since the summer.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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2 of 3 comments
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I wonder every day why there are still flowers blooming in my garden and its almost time for snow but I do thank God for letting them bring some joy to my life.
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Love your home and lot with trees. God's beauty. I have 2 acres wooded behind my house. Raking the leaves close to the house (or paying someone to} is a small price to pay for the year-round beauty and coolness it adds to my home. 0
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