Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: Beetroot queen on April 28, 2013, 07:38
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I put all my excess strawberry runners under the fruit trees. For several reasons, I had run out of pots, I couldn't waste them and I figured they may make a nice carpet for the fruit to bounce on as it falls and it may stop some weeds. But now I have doubts on whether it was a good idea. Will they actually grow under a small tree or not.
I could dig them out so it's not really a huge issue either way but they do look pretty :blush:
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I'd the same problem as you, too many runners so I planted them under a Silverbirch tree for the birds to feed on. I watered them for the first few weeks but once established they soon worked their way under the rest of shrubs in the border!!
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I'd the same problem as you, too many runners so I planted them under a Silverbirch tree for the birds to feed on. I watered them for the first few weeks but once established they soon worked their way under the rest of shrubs in the border!!
We have bare boarders so maybe we can see how they go. I grow daft things under my trees like shallots lol hubby things two plots is enough but it's soon filled.
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I am sure they will be fine as long as the canopy above them does not become too dense. Growing shallots beneath them is a good idea as the allium family are good companion plants for fruit trees, as are borage, and apparently beans and peas (although I would have thought these would struggle to grow well, I will have to try it and see!). Other recommended companions for fruit trees, which are also edible are Marigolds (Calendula NOT Tagetes), which can apparently be used as a 'poor man's saffron', nasturtiums and pansies. :)
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I am sure they will be fine as long as the canopy above them does not become too dense. Growing shallots beneath them is a good idea as the allium family are good companion plants for fruit trees, as are borage, and apparently beans and peas (although I would have thought these would struggle to grow well, I will have to try it and see!). Other recommended companions for fruit trees, which are also edible are Marigolds (Calendula NOT Tagetes), which can apparently be used as a 'poor man's saffron', nasturtiums and pansies. :)
The shallots were a happy trial as I didn't even think about suitable companions :blush: it happened because they needed somewhere and the plot space wasn't ready.