Dry Shade & Under-Tree Carpet Kit

Transform barren, root-choked dirt under mature shade trees into a lush, zero-mow evergreen carpet. The Dry Shade & Under-Tree Carpet Kit is an engineered, root-compatible living mulch system designed specifically for the difficult zones beneath large maples, oaks, and pines where lawn grass withers and dies. Instead of wasting hundreds of dollars on turf seed and heavy topsoil that suffocates your tree, this pre-measured collection provides complete, weed-smothering shade coverage for approximately 150 to 200 sq. ft. (a typical 12' to 16' under-canopy ring). Zero Spacing Math: Pre-measured for 150–200 sq. ft. of dense, weed-choking coverage between surface tree roots. Tree-Safe Non-Climbing Groundcovers: Naturally stays strictly on the forest floor—never climbs trunks or damages mature tree bark. Drought & Canopy Resistant: Thrives in rain shadows and dense overhead shade where traditional flowers fail. Quick Under-Tree Planting Guide: Never Till Over Tree Roots: Never rototill or add thick layers of dirt over exposed tree roots (this can kill mature trees). Simply dig small, individual pockets in natural soil gaps between existing roots. Border Your Ring with Accent Ajuga: Plant your 16 established pint pots of Ajuga in a continuous, spaced outer circle at the edge of the canopy area to create a vibrant, natural boundary. Checkerboard Your Bare-Root Runners: Stagger bare-root Pachysandra and Vinca Minor in an alternating grid across the root zone to create an interlocking living web. Light Mulch & Settle: Top open soil between plants with only 1–2 inches of shredded leaf mulch or finely ground bark (keep mulch pulled 12 inches back from the main tree trunk) and soak thoroughly. The 3-Layer Under-Tree Living Carpet: Combines tough, drought-hardy evergreen Pachysandra to seal out bare dirt, creeping Vinca Minor to knit around aggressive tree roots, and early-blooming potted accents to deliver continuous color and living mulch. What’s in the Box (116 Plants Total): 50 × Dense Evergreen Carpet Runners: (Two 25-Plant Bare Root Bundles: Pachysandra Terminalis) The backbone of your shade carpet; thick evergreen rosettes that thrive in dense shade, block sunlight from bare soil, and smother weed seeds. 50 × Deep-Shade Creeping Anchors: (One 50-Plant Bare Root Bundle: Vinca Minor / Periwinkle) Ultra-tough, shallow-rooting groundcover that weaves tightly over hard-packed soil without climbing, providing periwinkle spring blooms. 16 × Potted Infill Color Accents: (Established Pint Containers: Ajuga) Vigorous, high-contrast focal points featuring rich, dark foliage and delicate blue/purple spring blooms to frame the planting bed. Ideal for planting in a continuous outer ring. 🌱 Nursery Grower's Note & Availability: Varieties in this kit are selected specifically for exceptional drought tolerance in dense shade and compatibility with aggressive hardwood roots. Depending on seasonal harvest, inventory cycles, and planting season, varieties of equal or greater value and identical deep-shade performance (such as Pachysandra Terminalis, Vinca Minor, or Burgundy Glow Ajuga) may be substituted to ensure vigorous, healthy stock arrives ready to plant. Key Advantages: No Tree Root Competition: Specially chosen shallow-feeders coexist harmoniously with mature oak, maple, and pine roots without robbing critical trunk moisture. Permanent Zero-Mow Groundcover: Eliminates the scalp, dust, and exposed roots of failed turf grass forever. Evergreen Winter Interest: Leaves stay glossy and green all winter long, preventing mud and soil erosion during heavy winter rains. 📐 150–200 Sq. Ft. Under-Tree Layout Guide & Diagram To build complete coverage without damaging tree roots, work with your tree's natural structure. Frame the boundary with your potted Ajuga accents (F) in a continuous outer circle, weave your evergreen runners (P) through the middle zone, and tuck trailing Vinca (V) into the inner root ring closest to the trunk. Unpack & Hydrate: Immediately untie bare-root bundles and submerge roots in a bucket of cool water for 1 to 2 hours prior to planting. Keep your 16 pint pots watered and in shaded conditions until planting. Locate Natural Pockets: Use a hand trowel or narrow transplanter rather than a large shovel to locate natural openings between major woody roots. Never cut roots larger than 1.5 inches in diameter. Outer Edge Ring (F): Plant the 16 pint pots of Ajuga in a continuous, spaced outer circle at the canopy's edge to establish a vibrant, well-defined