I have a bed of euphorbia, ferns, lamia, rue, solomon's seal, etc. planted underneath a huge cedar. How important is it to clean up the enormous amount of cedar junk that falls onto the bed? It is a big job, but I understand that cedar contains an oil that inhibits plant growth. Is that true? Thanks, Nichelle
Talking mostly about chips but has related comments. http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/~Linda ...Myths_files/Myths/Allelopathic wood chips.pdf
Good piece. The "nutrient and light [and water] limitations" of this growing environment are certainly more my bugbears, although my tree is also not a "cedar" which can be a variety of species, as the author says. The debris also buries plants and sort of suffocates them. I do an annual clean-up but it is a losing battle, however, after about 13 years, the neighbour's yard where the tree actually stands and where they don't do an annual clean-up is a good 12-18 inches higher than mine. Finally, because the ground is dry, it is ecstatically inhabited by a multitude of pests - weevils and cutworms. But if you put better dirt down, the tree roots will come up and invade it. Gardening under such trees is at best a mixed pleasure.
