The space beneath a tree can feel like a challenge.

Grass struggles. Plants fail to thrive. Soil dries quickly. It’s easy to assume that nothing will grow there.

The issue isn’t only shade. There’s quite a competition happening beneath the soil.

Tree roots, limited moisture, and reduced sunlight all play a role. The key to success isn’t trying to outcompete the tree. You need to learn how to work with it!

At the Garden, woodland spaces offer a model for how this can be done naturally.

What Makes It Difficult to Plant Under Trees

Planting beneath trees comes with a unique set of conditions.

Tree roots extend far beyond the trunk, often occupying much of the surrounding soil. These roots compete for water and nutrients, leaving little available for new plants.

At the same time:

• Shade reduces the amount of available sunlight
• Soil may be compacted or dry
• Rainfall is intercepted by the canopy of leaves and branches above

In Wisconsin, these challenges can be amplified by heavy soils and periods of summer dryness or more severe drought.

Understanding these conditions is the first step toward planting successfully.

Think Like a Woodland

In nature, forests don’t leave these areas bare.

Instead, they rely on layers:

• Trees form the canopy
• Shrubs fill the middle
• Groundcovers protect the soil

Each layer is adapted to its place. Plants that grow beneath trees are naturally suited to lower light and shared resources.

This layered approach is central to how plants coexist and support one another.

Choose the Right Plants

Success under trees starts with plant selection. Native, shade-tolerant plants are often the best choice because they’re adapted to local conditions and woodland environments.

Consider:

• Wild Ginger – Dense groundcover for shade
• Pennsylvania Sedge – A great alternative to grass
• Foamflower – Spreads gently and adds seasonal blooms
• Woodland Phlox – Early spring color
• Ferns – Reliable structure and texture

These plants help create habitat. Many support pollinators and beneficial insects, especially when combined with other native species.

Plant Carefully

When adding plants beneath trees, less disruption is better.

• Avoid cutting large roots whenever possible
• Dig small, shallow planting holes
• Use compost to improve soil, rather than replacing it entirely
• Start with smaller plants, which establish more easily

Protecting the tree’s root system is just as important as supporting the new plants.

Water & Establish Thoughtfully

Even shade plants need support while getting established.

• Water deeply during the first growing season
• Monitor soil moisture, especially during dry periods
• Use a light layer of mulch if needed but avoid piling it against the tree trunk.  

Once established, many native plants require less ongoing care, which means less work for you too.

Start Small

You don’t need to transform the entire area beneath a tree all at once.

Start with:

• A small section near the base
• A shaded edge of your yard
• A spot where grass isn’t thriving

Even a small planting can make a difference. Creating a pocket of native plants — especially in spaces where little else grows — is one of the simplest ways to support pollinators and build a more resilient landscape.

An Easy Way to Begin: Pollinator Pocket Kits

If you’re not sure where to start, the Garden’s Pollinator Pocket Kits are designed to make it simple.

Each kit includes a curated selection of five native plants chosen to support pollinators and beneficial insects. While many pollinator plants thrive in sunnier spaces, these kits can be a starting point for building out a larger, connected landscape — one that includes both sun and shade.

You might begin with a hot, dry Pollinator Pocket, then expand into shaded areas under trees using native groundcovers and woodland plants. Over time, these spaces connect which can create habitat across your yard.

Registration for Pollinator Pocket Kits is open through May 31, with limited quantities available. It’s an easy way to take the first step and start building a garden that works with nature.

See It in Action: Woodland Wonders

If you’re looking for inspiration, Woodland Wonders presented by Selner Tree & Shrub Care offers a chance to see this approach in practice.

Throughout the exhibit, you’ll find layered plantings that show how trees, shrubs, and ground-level plants work together. It’s an opportunity to observe how shade gardens can thrive when plants are chosen and placed with intention.

Take a walk, look closely, and notice how the ground beneath the trees is anything but empty.

A Different Way to Garden

Shade doesn’t have to be a limitation. With the right plants and a different approach, it can become one of the most dynamic and rewarding parts of a garden.

By working with trees instead of against them, you create a landscape that is more resilient, more sustainable, and more connected to the natural systems around you.