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Soft Landings

  • Writer: Jennifer Anderson
    Jennifer Anderson
  • 3 days ago
  • 4 min read
Wild Columbine is among plants that work well underneath the tree canopy, among the fallen leaves.
Wild Columbine is among plants that work well underneath the tree canopy, among the fallen leaves.

Of all the adventures my brother and I had on our mostly wooded lot, a memory that stands out was daring ourselves to fall to the ground, knees straight and arms at our sides.


As a kid, all you know is how awesome you are for having completed such a feat.  Now, I know that kids aren’t the only critters that need soft landings.


Leave the Leaves


Soft Landings are gardens of native plants underneath tree canopies and mixed with the leaf litter that naturally collects there. 


Tens of thousands of insects and other critters live out the winter in these critical habitats.


Moths, in particular, pupate and fall from the native oaks, maples and cherries.  Some butterflies, like the Mourning Cloak, winter as adults in leaf litter.


Mourning Cloak
Mourning Cloak

Amphibians, box turtles, ladybugs, fireflies and other critters also need the leaf litter for moisture, food and protection from predators. (See box below on the Luna Moth.)


If the only greenery underneath the canopy is turf grass, many creatures will die from exposure and dryness, and compacted soil from mowers will make it difficult for insects like bumblebees to burrow underground.


In other words, leave the leaves under the tree canopy.  There’s a whole ecosystem out there that will thank you.


Add Native Plants


Even better, for us and the critters, is to plant native perennials under the tree canopy in addition to leaving the leaves. 


Native gardens not only help “catch” the falling insects, they also provide them with additional shelter from wind, rain and predators.  The plants’ structures help hold the leaves in place, and their deep roots keep soil loose and airy. 


Sparrow on grass
Sparrow on grass

They also add beauty, fragrance and bird life to our yards.


Gentle Digging


Keeping the tree’s roots in mind, it’s relatively simple to create a garden underneath a native landscape tree, especially if the tree is young and its roots have not extended very far.  


For mature trees, try to avoid planting within eight feet of the trunk, where the roots are closest to the surface.  Even outside the 8-foot diameter, it’s best to use plants that are still small, such as landscape plugs, and require less digging. Further out, bigger plants are OK, but try to use just a trowel as opposed to a shovel, which might damage the roots.


First Steps


To convert a lawn into a garden, you’ll first need to get rid of the grass (leaving the leaves helps with this!).  You could dig it up, but that can be a lot of work.


Cardboard can be used to smother the grass, although it also can deprive the soil of moisture.  Other options include covering the grass with a 6-inch layer of arborist mulch, thick layers of newspaper or a heavy tarp that you’ll have to remove after at least one season before planting.


Which Plants Should I Plant?


The best plants to use:

  • Are native to your area

  • Like moist environments

  • Tolerate at least partial shade, and

  • Generally top out at no more than two feet, for a neat look


In the Northeast, several plants fit these criteria, including Golden Groundsel (aggressive--great for tamping down weeds!), Geranium, Virginia Bluebells and Wild Ginger.


The flowers of Wild Ginger are often hidden underneath the leaves and pollinated by ants
The flowers of Wild Ginger are often hidden underneath the leaves and pollinated by ants

To add form and semi-evergreen color, add Christmas Fern or grasses such as Little Bluestem, which also provides seed for the birds.  


Once your garden is in place, feel free to add new plants or move the existing ones around for the look that suits you.


Find our Soft Landings kit here, and Happy planting!



Story of the Luna Moth


Luna moths use the leaf layer for their winter hibernation during their pupal stage. 

The journey begins when female Luna lays her eggs on the leaves of a deciduous host plant, such as a white birch, walnut, hickory, or sumac. When the caterpillars hatch, they feast on these leaves, growing and preparing for the next phase of their life. 

When the time comes for metamorphosis, the Luna caterpillar spins a protective silk cocoon. Intriguingly, they incorporate the very leaves they’ve been feeding on into this cocoon. 

As autumn progresses and leaves begin to drop, the cocoon, securely wrapped in a leaf, falls to the ground. Here, amidst the accumulating leaf layer, it finds camouflage and protection, safely hidden away from potential predators.

–Braelei Hardt, National Wildlife Federation blog



About the author


Jennifer Anderson owns Tree Talk Natives, a native tree and plant nursery along Massachusetts' South Shore. A former news reporter, she loves to write and talk about native plants. Jennifer also gives garden consultations and presentations on native plants. She can be reached at jennifer@treetalknatives.com.

 


Sources:


 
 
 

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