Is there anything that I can grow?

[Therewere5inthebed]

I have a massive Blue Spruce tree in my garden, I love it but it stops grass growing under it so I’m now left with bare earth.

I’d love to plant something under it but have no idea what.

Is the soil dry or moist? Clay/loam/sand?

What plants do you like that grow as ground cover in forest areas? We have wood sorrel growing under ours.

Thanks for your reply Super it’s really dry but fertile as it’s had 10 yrs of chicken fertiliser on it as it was previously my chicken run.

It’s a clay soil under all of that though.

I’ve tried azaleas but they didn’t survive the first year despite good watering.

I love Ivy and it does ok as ground cover but would like a bit of colour and some height.

Bergenia, pachysandra, ajuga, low growing cotoneaster, clumping geranium, vinca and liriope.

Also meant to say if you trim off lower branches that will allow a bit more light and rain in.

Lovely thanks for your suggestions. I removed lots of lower branches in the Autumn so I’m hoping that it will make a difference this summer.
It’s certainly made the garden lighter in general.

I’m planning to attack an ancient verbena bush with the bow saw this summer too, the lower branches are totally bare with leaves at the top only so I’m hoping that it will sprout lower down or the whole thing will have to go.

Vinca minor, or periwinkle. Also some geraniums will cope with dry shade. But you have to really water for the first year . Bulbs might cope. Mayb3 put a photo up?