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New Zealand Christmas Bush

Q.Why Will Nothing Grow Properly Under My New Zealand Christmas Tree?

Zone Cape Town | Anonymous added on January 7, 2024 | Answered

I made a bed around the bottom of the tree, but, while the shade plants I put there don’t die, they don’t prosper either.

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GKH_Susan
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Answered on January 8, 2024

The best thing you can do for your tree is to apply 2 to 3 inches of hardwood mulch beneath the tree out to the dripline. Trees have feeder roots within a foot of the ground and planting under the tree not only can disturb the roots, but the tree and underplantings are competing for nutrition and water. Neither can thrive.

If you have your heart set on planting under the tree, here are some guidelines to avoid injuring the tree.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/planting-garden-beneath-trees.htm

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