As Trees Mature

The Bermuda grass beneath this young oak will do well as long as the tree is small, but as the tree's canopy gets broader and thickens with age, the sun-dependent grass will need to be replaced.

When trees are small, they don't cast a lot of shade, which means that a sun-loving variety of grass can thrive below it--but only for a little while. As the tree grows, you may need to either replace the turf or consider another ground cover. Mature trees can cast so much shade that even shade-tolerant turf grasses like fescue have a tough time growing.

As trees grow, it's a good idea to prune occasionally to open up the canopy; you can also limb them up to allow more light to penetrate through the tree and allow what's underneath to grow. Otherwise, you may be forced to make drastic changes and replace sun-loving plants with those that are better adapted to growing in the shade . Tackling some of these pruning chores while the trees are young is a lot easier and much less expensive.

Understanding how trees change as they mature is important, and it's something to keep in mind every time you plant a tree. Think about what the tree is going to look like in five, 10 or 20 years. Think about how tall and wide it will be and if it will alter the look of your landscape as times goes on.