Creating Soft Landings

What if the space beneath your trees could do more than collect mulch? A “soft landing” combines shade-tolerant native plants, leaf litter, and natural materials to create habitat while working with the conditions beneath the canopy.

What Should Grow Under a Tree? 

The space beneath a mature tree can be one of the more challenging places to establish a planting. It may be shady, dry, full of competing roots, and, depending on the tree, not exactly welcoming to a shovel. So, it is understandable why these areas often become a layer of mulch, a patch of struggling turf, or simply a place where the mower goes when nobody is quite sure what else to do with it. 

There is another option: a soft landing. 

A soft landing is a planting of shade-tolerant native plants beneath trees, combined with leaf litter and other natural materials such as small branches. The idea is not simply to make the area beneath a tree look better. It is to create a functioning understory that provides habitat while working with the conditions that already exist.  

More Than a Pretty Groundcover 

We often think about pollinator habitats in terms of flowers. Flowers certainly matter, but insects need more than a buffet. Many caterpillars and other insects spend part of their lives away from the foliage where they feed. Leaf litter, soil, branches, and other material on the ground can provide places to shelter, pupate, and overwinter. Leaving some of these materials in place beneath trees can therefore turn an otherwise bare space into a small but useful habitat. 

That is one reason a soft landing looks a little different from a conventional planting bed. A perfectly tidy surface isn't necessarily the goal. Sometimes the leaves are doing more than just waiting for someone to rake them. 

The Tree Comes First 

Before planting beneath an established tree, it is important to remember who was there first. Tree roots are responsible for water and nutrient uptake as well as gas exchange within the soil. Disturbing those roots can affect the health and stability of the tree. Penn State Extension recommends minimizing digging, avoiding damage to exposed roots, and preserving the root flare. It also cautions against adding large amounts of soil or compost over the existing root system, which can interfere with gas exchange. 

This is where smaller plants can be useful. Plugs and small divisions can be tucked into the existing soil with relatively small planting holes, reducing the amount of digging required. If a planting hole encounters a substantial tree root, move the plant rather than making the root move for you. The tree has seniority. 

It is also worth paying attention to the tree itself. Some species tolerate root disturbance better than others, and trees with dense, shallow root systems can make establishment particularly challenging. Underplanting should be approached by working with the tree's existing conditions, not trying to redesign them. 

Conditions You Actually Have 

The shade beneath a tree is only part of the equation. The soil may also be dry because the tree is competing for available moisture, and sunlight can change considerably through the seasons. That means plants selected for a soft landing should be able to handle the combination of shade, root competition, and available soil moisture. We recommend dry shade tolerant perennials for difficult sites beneath established trees. 

Native ferns, sedges, woodland perennials, and other shade adapted plants can provide different heights, textures, and root structures while filling the understory. Rather than cramming as many species as possible into the space, consider a smaller palette repeated in groups or swaths. Repetition can make the planting feel intentional while still allowing it to function as a plant community. 

Give the Ground Layer a Chance 

Once established, a soft landing can reduce the need for mowing directly beneath the canopy while creating habitat where turf and mulch provide relatively little ecological function. Fall is particularly relevant here. Allow leaves and small woody debris to remain beneath trees as part of the duff layer, where they can provide shelter for insects and gradually return organic matter to the soil. The goal isn't to create a neglected corner of the property. It is to recognize that some of the material we normally remove has a role to play. 

A soft landing is ultimately about changing the way we think about the space beneath a tree. Instead of asking, “How do I keep this area clean?” we can ask, “What belongs here?” The answer may be a combination of native plants, leaf litter, roots, insects, and a little less mowing. Not a bad use of the space.

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