Underplanting Trees: How to get it right

What is Underplanting? Underplanting is the practice of planting beneath trees to transform a bare patch of earth into a layered, thriving, and beautiful part of the garden. Planted thoughtfully, it not only softens the base of a tree but also encourages biodiversity, improves soil health and
reduces maintenance like weeding. Whether you’re designing a woodland-style garden or adding colour beneath ornamental trees,
here’s how to approach underplanting the right way.

Why Underplant Your Trees?

Aesthetic impact: Soften the transition from trunk to ground with seasonal texture and colour.

Suppress weeds: Dense ground cover shades out unwanted growth.

Conserve moisture: Plants beneath trees help reduce evaporation from the soil.

Support wildlife: Flowering underplants attract pollinators and shelter insects and small animals.

Extend seasonal interest: Underplanting gives a layered look that evolves throughout the year.

Best Practices for Underplanting Trees

Choose the Right Tree

Open-branched, light-canopy trees (like Amelanchier, Betula, or Crataegus) are ideal for underplanting.

Avoid trees with dense, low canopies or very shallow roots (Acer palmatum, Fagus sylvatica) unless selecting very shade-tolerant plants.

Let your trees establish first before underplanting so as not to cause too much root competition.

Match the Conditions

Assess shade levels (light, partial or full).

Consider root competition – choose drought-tolerant, shallow-rooted plants.

Use low-maintenance perennials that won’t compete too aggressively for nutrients.

Avoid Damaging Tree Roots

Avoid digging too deep. Lightly fork the top layer of soil or plant using plugs or small, younger plants.

Mulch after planting to suppress weeds and retain moisture, but keep it clear of the tree trunk to prevent rot.

Think in Layers

Combine bulbs, ground covers, and low-growing perennials.

Use repetition for a natural, cohesive look.

Best Plants for Underplanting

Here are some tried-and-true varieties that thrive beneath trees

Spring Bulbs (Naturalise well under deciduous trees)

● Snowdrops (Galanthus)

● Crocus

● Daffodils (Narcissus)

● Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)

● Scilla and Anemone blanda

Groundcovers

● Geranium macrorrhizum – Tolerant and fragrant

● Epimedium – Delicate spring flowers, thrives in dry shade

● Pachysandra terminalis – Dense and evergreen

● Liriope muscari – Grassy foliage with late-summer flowers

● Brunnera macrophylla – Heart-shaped leaves and spring blooms

Woodland Perennials

● Helleborus – Ideal for winter and early spring colour

● Tiarella (Foamflower) – Airy spring flowers and ground cover habit

● Pulmonaria (Lungwort) – Speckled leaves and pollinator-friendly flowers

● Heuchera – Adds colour and structure with vibrant foliage

Ferns and Grasses

● Dryopteris (wood ferns)

● Hakonechloa macra – Especially ‘Aureola’ for golden foliage

● Carex species – Compact and shade-loving

Herbs

● Mint – Controversial we know, but if you want to great a wild edible area, mint is a great ground cover

● Parsley – Can tolerate shade

● Thyme species – Adds a wonderful fragrance and can handle some shade.

Trees That Welcome Underplanting

Some trees make it much easier to underplant due to their open canopies or less invasive roots.

These include

● Amelanchier (Serviceberry)

● Betula utilis (Himalayan Birch)

● Crataegus (Hawthorn)

● Sorbus (Rowan)

● Malus (Ornamental Crab Apple)

Things to Be Mindful Of

● Watering: Young underplants may need help getting established under large trees that draw significant moisture.

● Root disturbance: Avoid heavy digging around mature tree roots. You’re almost best underplanting at the same time as planting your tree if you can.

● Maintenance: Use mulch to reduce weeding and maintain moisture, but refresh it annually.

● Balance: Don’t crowd the base of the tree, keep some space clear around the trunk.

Underplanting is a subtle art that blends ecology with design. When done well, it turns the base of a tree from a forgotten patch into a vibrant part of your garden’s story, alive with colour, texture and life across the seasons.

Whether you’re creating a shady oasis or bringing spring bulbs to life beneath a flowering tree, underplanting is a simple way to add lasting beauty and biodiversity to your landscape.