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Started By
Message
Ground cover under oak trees
Posted on 5/4/25 at 7:37 pm
Posted on 5/4/25 at 7:37 pm
What is a good grass alternative that will work in the shade and fairly wet soil that grass won’t grow in?
I want something that stays short and either doesn’t need mowing or minimal mowing. I found a couple but they like dry soil.
I want something that stays short and either doesn’t need mowing or minimal mowing. I found a couple but they like dry soil.
9
Posted on 5/4/25 at 7:51 pm to Baldy
Not sure about the wet soil part.
But I planted a few cast irons near the oak tree and then further out a lot of dwarf mondo plants. I'm going to see how it starts to fill in this year, but may add some more next fall to help it fill in faster.
But I planted a few cast irons near the oak tree and then further out a lot of dwarf mondo plants. I'm going to see how it starts to fill in this year, but may add some more next fall to help it fill in faster.
Posted on 5/4/25 at 8:14 pm to Puffoluffagus
cast iron
liriope
monkey grass
all classics under live oaks, plant and forget
liriope
monkey grass
all classics under live oaks, plant and forget
Posted on 5/4/25 at 8:46 pm to Baldy
I’d stay away from planting Asian jasmine. You’ll thank me later.
Posted on 5/4/25 at 8:51 pm to Baldy
Saw something about Wandering Jew plant growing well in shade, but I don't have any myself.
Posted on 5/4/25 at 9:34 pm to Baldy
Japanese ardisia
Posted on 5/4/25 at 10:37 pm to Baldy
You need to give yourself an 8-10’ diameter mulch ring before you start planting.
After that I’d plant super blue liriope. Make sure it’s super blue and not big blue. You can plant that with about 15” on center spacing and it will fill in quickly.
You will have to water it well though since it’s competing with the oak for water and nutrients. Once established you won’t have to do anything but occasionally pull some weeds
After that I’d plant super blue liriope. Make sure it’s super blue and not big blue. You can plant that with about 15” on center spacing and it will fill in quickly.
You will have to water it well though since it’s competing with the oak for water and nutrients. Once established you won’t have to do anything but occasionally pull some weeds
This post was edited on 5/4/25 at 10:38 pm
Posted on 5/5/25 at 6:47 am to Cool Hand Luke
quote:
Wandering Jew plant growing well in shade
It does well in offices that don't get a lot of natural light. It took me years to realize that I'm supposed to find the nickname for that plant offensive.
Posted on 5/5/25 at 7:42 am to LemmyLives
Yeah that's what I was reading. Some think it is offensive. So tired of people being offended by anything and everything.
Posted on 5/5/25 at 1:07 pm to Baldy
Have you considered ferns? We planted a few 3 gal plants years ago and they cover hundreds of sq ft now, zero maintenance. They're Kimberly Queens but there are tons of native options you can go with.
Fun fact, there's a Green version of this called Wandering Willy. It is invasive AF though so keep it potted.
quote:
Wandering Jew
Fun fact, there's a Green version of this called Wandering Willy. It is invasive AF though so keep it potted.
Posted on 5/6/25 at 7:50 pm to sledgehammer
quote:
I’d stay away from planting Asian jasmine. You’ll thank me later.
Please explain. Is it the upkeep?
Posted on 5/6/25 at 8:16 pm to shoelessjoe
Yes, once you plant it it takes over everything and is just about impossible to get rid of outside of very strong herbicide. Once, I used a shovel to scrape up the root system of the thick mat. I thought I got it all, but it came back regardless.
Posted on 5/6/25 at 9:19 pm to sledgehammer
It does want to take over but looks great if you keep it under control
Posted on 5/7/25 at 2:02 pm to Baldy
Purple hearts
Posted on 12/18/25 at 6:54 am to Baldy
I had a similar issue under a big live oak, and I ended up mixing dwarf mondo grass with a few patches of asiatic jasmine where it got a bit more light. Both handled the roots pretty well and didn’t need much water. For stuff closer to the house where grass won’t grow either, I actually used a few potted houseplants from an indoor plant delivery — made those spots look less bare.
This post was edited on 12/26/25 at 6:47 am
Posted on 12/18/25 at 2:10 pm to Baldy
Why not perennial rye? It's inexpensive and will last from October through May. After that, I'd try Zoysia sod and keep the ball rolling.
The only thing that I've done to my large live oak is trim the edges with a ladder.
The only thing that I've done to my large live oak is trim the edges with a ladder.
Posted on 12/18/25 at 9:23 pm to sledgehammer
quote:I have asian jasmine under our oak tree and it looks great. The monkey grass doesn’t look near as niceI wish the jasmine would spread.
I’d stay away from planting Asian jasmine. You’ll thank me later.
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