Why will nothing grow under this tree?

Question

I live in southern Louisiana. I have a big maple tree in my front yard facing west. I put a few inches of top soil and manure around its base closed in with some rocks. It gets full sun, but I can't get anything to grow there. I planted narcissus bulbs and only a couple came up in spring. I planted sweet potato vine twice and what the squirrels didn't eat died and never came back. I planted purslane and it died in a couple weeks. Not even weeds will grow there! My Mom suggested that maybe someone dumped ashes or something there, but would the effects have lasted this long? I've been living year 1.5 years now. What could survive here? I don't care what it is I just want something there. Thanks!

I know it seems like it wouldn't get full sun under a tree, but the leaves are all very high and sparse and the sun passes over just south or north of the tree depending on the season, so it gets a lot of sun during the day. I have a cheap solar light under it that lights up faithfully for a few hours every evening.

I'm sorry but I forgot to add that my other maple on the north side of the house has plenty of things growing under it: potato vine, gladiolus, narcissus, aglonema. And this maple gets less sun than the problem one.

Answer 1

Most maples have heavy feeder roots in the top few inches of the soil... lots of roots, no room for anything else to grow, and they also "hog" water and fertilizer.

Consider making yourself a bench under or around the tree and
putting some potted plants on the bench.

Answer 2

Shade and lack of soil.

First, stop putting soil over the roots! I'd even tear down the little wall and pull away the top soil. The trunk wood/bark should not be below soil line! Also the roots do not want to be buried....believe it or not. The roots need oxygen and in your soil there is so much clay and underground water, the roots survive in a narrow layer.

If you can't grow grass or shade loving groundcover, then put a mulch under the tree. Put your flowers out in the sunshine and where you can safely sink a shovel at least (!) 12 inches into the ground without hitting a root.

Answer 3

You probably need shade loving plants.

Potatoe vine or is it Potato vine...anyway they like full sun so do narcissus bulbs.

Oh by the way too much manure can burn plants...How do I know...I've done it!

Try hostas, periwinkle, star jasmine and or hydrangeas they do great underneath a large tree.

Your gonna have to keep critters away with some sort of screen or chemical.

Answer 4

I have a huge maple tree in my front yard and nothing grows under it either. The roots are partially above the ground and the ground uneven. I finally just put a shallow layer of pine bark over the ground there to make it look better and the ground less treacherous to walk over as it evened it out a bit.:)

Answer 5

Narcissus is a spring buld that does only come up in the spring.

My thought would be maybe the tree is getting all of the water. Have you tried a more drought tolerant type of plant. Succelents like sedum maybe?

Answer 6

I would use cedar mulch on the ground, and it comes in natural, dark, or red colour and then I would put a few hostas in, not all the same kind. Space them, less looks best and get the larger varieties. Or ferns, the ones you see in the bush you can actually purchase too and they can get very full and lush. The cedar mulch has an awesome scent and the hostas do bloom. So it would look great.