Question
Hello Viktoria:  I live in zone 6 and can only get hostas to grow under my ceder trees (which are over 200 years old).  I have been unable to get other flowers or even shade grass to grow under them.  Could there be that there is something in the trees or perhaps the needles that fall to the ground, that prohibits growth?  We thought if it was just a lack of sun we could trim the trees up a little... or maybe amend the soil with something if it is a PH or acidity problem.  Any ideas would be appreciated, thank you for your time, Mary

Answer
I suspect that competition from tree roots is the problem.  If you were able to grow hostas there, though, you should be able to grow other things as well.  Try Pulmonarias (Bethlehem Sage), Heucheras (Coral Bells), Japanese Painted Fern and Sedums.  Acidity or toxicity should not be a problem.  The difficulty is in giving the perennials sufficient water without drowning the trees.  Use a soluble fertilizer such as MiracleGro on the perennials, which are able to take up some of the nutrients through their foliage, too; fertilizer applied to the soil only is hogged by the trees.