Every gardener has one.

That stubborn patch beneath a mature maple or towering pines.

The annoying shady strip where grass refuses to grow no matter how much seed, fertilizer, or water you apply.

It’s one of the most common landscaping frustrations — and one of the easiest to understand once you look to nature for the answer.

The truth is, many of these challenging spots aren’t meant to grow turfgrass at all.

They’re woodland habitats.

Woodland Wonders presented by Selner Tree & Shrub Care celebrates the beauty and importance of trees, including the life beneath them. The same lessons that make a woodland thrive can help transform some of the most difficult areas in your own landscape.

Why Grass Has Such a Hard Time

When grass struggles beneath mature trees, it’s easy to assume something is wrong with the soil.

More often than not, the conditions are simply working against turfgrass.

Tree canopies intercept rainfall before much of it reaches the ground. Extensive root systems compete for available moisture, and dense shade limits the sunlight grass needs to grow thick and healthy.

Turfgrass naturally evolved in open spaces with abundant sun and fewer competing roots.

Woodland environments are different.

Instead of fighting those conditions, it’s often easier and more rewarding to embrace them.

The Right Plant Makes All the Difference

Many native woodland plants evolved specifically to grow beneath trees.

Rather than competing with shade and dry soil, they thrive in it.

Some excellent choices for Wisconsin landscapes include:

• Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) – a soft, grass-like native groundcover that spreads naturally beneath trees.
• Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) – heart-shaped leaves that create a lush woodland carpet.
• Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) – delicate spring blooms with attractive foliage throughout the season.
• Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) – cheerful spring flowers and dependable shade performance.
• Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum) – graceful arching stems with elegant foliage.
• Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) – evergreen texture that provides year-round interest.
• Coral bells (Heuchera spp.) – colorful foliage in a variety of shades that brightens shady spaces.

These plants don’t just survive in dry shade. They belong there.

Think Like a Woodland

One of the biggest differences between a lawn and a woodland is diversity.

A lawn is typically one species growing across an entire area while a woodland is made up of layers.

Tall trees create the canopy. Smaller trees and shrubs fill the middle.

Groundcovers, sedges, ferns, and woodland flowers cover the forest floor.

All together, these layers create a landscape that’s both beautiful and resilient.

Instead of trying to create one uninterrupted carpet of grass, consider creating a tapestry of plants with different textures, heights, and seasonal interest.

Living Plants Do More Than Mulch

Many homeowners eventually give up on difficult shady spots and spread mulch beneath their trees.

Mulch certainly has benefits. It helps conserve moisture, reduces weeds, and protects tree roots.

But living plants take those benefits a step further.

Groundcovers help stabilize soil, reduce erosion, support beneficial insects, and create habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. As leaves and stems naturally decompose, they also contribute organic matter that improves soil over time.

Nature rarely leaves woodland floors bare. A healthy woodland is covered with life.

Start With One Small Area

Converting an entire lawn into a woodland garden may feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to happen all at once.

Start with the area that frustrates you the most.

Choose a handful of shade-loving plants that suit your site, add a light layer of mulch while they establish, and watch how the space changes over the seasons.

As your confidence grows, you may find yourself expanding that woodland garden a little farther each year.

Find Inspiration at Woodland Wonders

As you explore Woodland Wonders, take a closer look at what’s happening beneath the trees.

Notice how ferns, sedges, flowering perennials, and leafy groundcovers work together to create rich layers of texture and color. Observe how these plants fill the landscape without relying on a traditional lawn.

The exhibit offers more than beautiful ideas — it shows how working with nature can create landscapes that are healthier, more sustainable, and full of seasonal interest.