Hello all...we've mostly survived our first two weeks in zone 9a (except for the a/c quitting and somehow I got a nasty virus; DH is suffering with sinuses - or allergies - maybe ligustrum?).

I met my backyard neighbor today - Mrs. Betsy...wonderful woman of 90 who made it across the yard in the truly death defying heat to say hello today. She tells me that the live oaks that separate our yards (and are underplanted with nothing) turn from dry lifeless dirt to a mudpile once it rains

Mrs. Betsy thinks adding more dirt might be the trick but I'm wondering if that would work - seems like a drain would be needed before adding dirt. I'd rather underplant something (they have cannas around the base of the trees). but I need a zone 9a groundcover for heavy shade that is both dry and then wet. Any ideas or experiences. I will say that the birds are wonderful in the tall trees....early morning is a concert.

p.s. I'm thinking that maybe a chicken coop and a few birds might fit there but Mrs. Betsy will need to agree first.

A versatile ground cover here is Horse Herb.

Well, since most mud in Louisiana sprouts Crayfish, that could be sticky. Remember oaks throw tannins that can kill plants under them. Herbs, hmmm, most herbs dont like water. We use tradescantia, vining vinca, sweet potato vines, liriope to keep back the bare earth.

Live oaks are a problem. Great tree overall, but I don't think they belong in suburban yards. They get way too big and cast way too much shade for that application in my opinion. I had a similar situation that you're describing. I don't think any ground cover is going to yield a good result. I mulched the entire area under the trees and planted shade tolerant shrubs. Some others with more knowledge/experience may chime in and disagree, but based on my knowledge/experience there just really aren't many or any good ground covers for that kind of shade. There are shrubs and smaller trees that are adapted to live in the understory though.

I've come to agree with you V - not a suburban tree at all. Our yard is almost an acre and the FOUR oaks take up 3/4.....pretty yes but full of squirrels and they exacerbate the nasty drainage problem we have (the seller failed to mention the flooding....)

I'm going to try understory shrubs - maybe swamp azaela, some ferns that like wet feet and I'm going to use leaves to try and mimic nature as a mulch.

Thanks for your input

My vote would be to use mulch. Granted, it does need to be replenished a little too often. I have Red Oaks as do my neighbors. Not much luck with any understory plants.

I was told I have two live oaks and 4 'water' oaks....I really need to find someone local to confirm that,

It probably doesn't matter what type of oaks they are in terms of finding a groundcover or whatever. The thing that really matters is whether you have Red Oaks and that's because they're the oaks that are susceptible to the deadly Oak Wilt Disease. Makes me very paranoid.

Quercus nigra, water oaks. I will take a pic in the morning for you. I have 2 types oaks, Post oak and Q nigra. We have no yard, basically, intentionally, but live oaks can be cleaned along the limbs and create more air flow...

Here are results at the Wildflower Database for Texas perennials <=3' high that live in wet soils and full shade. Most of these grow in zone 9a. Bear in mind that plants rated for "full shade" will survive in full shade, but not necessarily thrive. For instance, Obedient Plant is listed as a full shade, but mine never bloomed once until I moved it to a sunny spot.

https://www.wildflower.org/pla...

Good work, @JuniperAnn.

I see that you're a relatively new member of NGA and if I haven't said it already, welcome.

I also see that you're familiar with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and that you can do a good search. Well done. Except I don't see Obedient Plant in the list, or were you just saying? And as much as I would like an Obedient Plant, I've never seen them referred to as shade plants.

Search results show a lot of ferns. No surprise there. What I love is the common name of the last plant on the list — Mountain death camas. A perfect finish.

oh boy - thanks everyone for all the good info. Hopefully not red oaks. My first order of business will be to talk to the city about the drainage issue - may be the culvert (buried along the road) needs mending or cleaning....maybe a second culvert/coulee? And then I'm thinking ferns for the really bad areas....maybe some swamp azalea? Lots of mulch where I can.

Thanks for the welcome, tx_flower_child. Obedient plant (physostegia Virginiana) didn't make the list; I was just usIng it as an example of what "full shade" may mean. It's listed for "moist" sil, not wet, tho the Wildflower Center says it tolerates poor drainage. https://www.wildflower.org/pla...

Good luck with the culvert, Jersey Ridge Arts.

Pics of water oaks- leaf


Bark patterns









And tree eventual height


Don't confuse that whitish bark with yaupons either, but they do mimic

I thought about this when I posted that Red Oaks are susceptible to Oak Wilt Disease but decided to check my memory. So I'm sorry to say that Live Oaks are also susceptible. Being susceptible does not mean that the oaks are going to get Oak Wilt. It only means that they could.

Research continues is all that I can say.

Here's a link to an article about Oak Wilt. It's written by my arborists.
http://www.arborilogical.com/h...

Red Oak, and RED Maple do not survive the caliche limestone caprock that runs thru Duncanville, and they don't color down in the south without a freeze snap, the wilt, well, sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't.