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Surface root angst
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Surface roots
I've heard quite a brouhaha from friends who are tired of dealing with pesky surface roots of Silver Maple trees, Birch and more. Some on the edge of taking chainsaw in hand and cutting them out!
I've seen many a raised flower bed situated just under those big beautiful trees to "hide" those surface roots and eliminate the angst of mowing over or between those roots. Folks thinking they've come up with the perfect solution. Oh, I'm sorry to tell you, that's as bad an idea as the chainsaw.
When you cover those roots with more than just a few inches of soil you're essentially smothering your tree to death. You have inhibited the trees ability to take up water and nutrients as well as cutting off it's oxygen supply. The decline may take 5 years but the tree will eventually pay the price.
Your best options are to plant groundcovers in between those roots. Lamium, aka Spotted Dead Nettle, is one of my favorite plants. There are a number of choices with flower colors from white to pink to purple. Variegated foliage and shade tolerant, this plant will spread wherever you allow it to.
Pachysandra, Vinca and Creeping Phlox are a few other perennial choices. Plant early Spring blooming bulbs that will flower before the trees leaf out and then cover up the dying foliage of the bulbs with annual plants like impatiens. That way you can change it up every year!
Bottom line is this, for the trees health and yours, take this winter to gaze through the garden catalogs and choose some great groundcovers for a more spectacular display and relief from surface root angst!
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