Tree in Decking Planter - What to underplant as Soil doesn’t reach top of planter due to tree height

Newbie2019

Hi All,

Hoping someone can assist with some advice please!  Complete novice here, so please be gentle :-)

I’ve bought a semi-mature Prunus Snow Goose tree that I’ve been advised to put it in a Metre x metre planter.   (The height is around 0.75 metre on the planter)

The issue I have is that the soil is still around ten inches from the top of the planter (photo attached)

The main benefit of the tree is that it grows narrow and provides screening from neighbours windows to a raised area on our decking.  However,  if I raise the soil any higher than it is at the moment then I have the issue where the branches on the tree start then becomes too high to give us the screening required (and the tree is about 15-18 foot anyway)

Therefore I have this ten inch gap around the top of the planter where you can see the lining etc and I’m wondering what I can plant around the tree to help make this a little more attractive!?  As the soil starts 10 inches lower than the top of the decking I’m not sure if this limits options?

I have no idea where to start so any advice gratefully received!  I’m thinking it needs to be something that once planting doesn’t need much messing around with (to avoid disturbing roots of the trees etc in years to come) but open to any inventive ideas people may have on this problem!

Photo attached and thanks in advance for any help!

Regards,
Chris

Rubytoo

Wow nice big planter, I don't know what problems you may encounter later on even thought it grows tall and narrow.
You could get a clematis of the type that does not climb. There are some nice ones in various colours that would spill over. Arabella is a long flowering one. You might put some twigs or a little woven frame to support it. Though it may be fine as they tend to go up before the flop over anyway.

It would die back in winter, you cut them back to tidy and then hard in spring and off they go again.
Feed and water would be needed to help it establish, but you would be doing the same for the tree anyway. I would get a couple for more immediate effect.
But even quite young ones flower well.

Newbie2019

Hi Rubytoo, Many thanks, I’ll look into your suggestions! Cheers Chris

Dovefromabove

If you’ve only just planted it I would take it out again and put more of your planting mixture (John Innes No 3 ?) beneath the roots to lift it up a bit, firming the soil down gently but firmly as you go. Ideally I would like the gap at the top to be no more than 2 inches... then
I’d dress the top with a thin layer of gravel. Planting around trees often leads to problems with watering and feeding as well as it being a place for plum moth caterpillars to overwinter. 

Rubytoo

I think @Dovefromabove is right, but also if you want it to stay that height because of the branch height and giving you privacy. I would not have put a tree there,  but it is your choice.

It is rather close to the patio doors too, looks a little awkward.

I would find a nicer spot for such a pretty tree, and use some other way to close the gap, if you really think that neighbours might be interested, would they not have to hang out the windows with someone holding onto their ankles to look and spy through that gap?
Sorry
If I was gong for my nude sunbathing mode, I would have one of those modern angled umbrellas, very versatile and you can remove it have it high or low etc. And you don't have to water or feed it.

BobTheGardener

If it has to remain as-is due to the screening, I wouldn't plant anything else in the soil as plants growing in the same soil as the tree will compete with the roots and may cause it to fail to establish properly.  However, I can see pots working in there.

Newbie2019

Thanks everyone!

Newbie2019

philippa smith2 said:

You could lift the tree a little I'd imagine to bring the soil level up. No experience with this tree but, like Ruby, not sure how many years before it outgrows the container. 
There's lots of things you could plant round the base of the tree depending on the aspect.  Ajuga reptans may do well.
Do you want to see the bare trunk of the tree or are you not too bothered ?  

Hi Phillipa,

not too too fussed about seeing the base of the tree.

Newbie2019

Rubytoo said:

I think @Dovefromabove is right, but also if you want it to stay that height because of the branch height and giving you privacy. I would not have put a tree there,  but it is your choice.

It is rather close to the patio doors too, looks a little awkward.

I would find a nicer spot for such a pretty tree, and use some other way to close the gap, if you really think that neighbours might be interested, would they not have to hang out the windows with someone holding onto their ankles to look and spy through that gap?
Sorry
If I was gong for my nude sunbathing mode, I would have one of those modern angled umbrellas, very versatile and you can remove it have it high or low etc. And you don't have to water or feed it.

The sole purpose of the tree wasn’t screening, however it’s a nice Side benefit.  We had a tree because we wanted a tree there, however ideally I don’t want to raise said tree another foot in the air if it can be avoided!

Newbie2019

BobTheGardener said:

If it has to remain as-is due to the screening, I wouldn't plant anything else in the soil as plants growing in the same soil as the tree will compete with the roots and may cause it to fail to establish properly.  However, I can see pots working in there.

Thanks Bob,  I’ll look into your suggestion as an option I hadn’t thought of.  I’m reluctant to raise the tree any further (although understand comments made on this) so this could be an option that would work!

JennyJ

You could plant up some annual bedding plants in pots and stand those inside the planter, around the edges. That way they wouldn't take nutrients from the tree and you would take the away I autumn so they wouldn't provide a home for overwintering pests. Something that would trail over the edges might look nice. You could also have pots of bulbs for spring.