28 Landscaping Ideas to Try Around Garden Trees
Trees bring shade, structure, and natural beauty to any garden, but the ground around them is often overlooked. With a little creativity, that area can become one of the most charming parts of your outdoor space. Below are 28 expanded landscaping ideas to help you turn the space around your trees into something beautiful, functional, and full of personality.
1) Contemporary Succulent Garden with Cypress
Combine cypress trees with a selection of sculptural succulents for a fresh, modern look. Plants like Echeveria, Sedum, and small ornamental grasses bring striking shapes and colors that stay eye-catching throughout the year. This style works well if you want minimal care, clean lines, and a combination of greenery that naturally complements the tall, narrow form of cypress trees.
2) Hostas and Moss Under the Tree Canopy
Turn the area beneath your tree into a soothing green retreat by planting shade-loving hostas and soft carpet moss. Hostas provide big, lush leaves that fill space beautifully, while moss adds a calm, velvety texture. Together, they create a peaceful under-tree garden that feels cool, quiet, and inviting — perfect for a shady corner.
3) Colorful Perennial Flower Garden
Surround your tree with bright perennials like coneflowers, lavender, and black-eyed Susans for a lively burst of color. These flowers come back each year and offer a mix of shapes and shades. By combining tall and low-growing plants, you can create a layered look that makes the tree feel like the centerpiece of a vibrant, blooming garden.
4) Snowdrop Border Around the Tree Base
Planting snowdrops around the base of your tree brings soft, early-spring beauty to your garden. Their white bell-shaped flowers stand out against dark soil and tree bark. You can outline the area with bricks or stones to create a clean circle that highlights their delicate charm.
5) Curved Planter with Bright Annuals
A curved planter built around your tree allows you to add splashes of seasonal color. Fill it with cheerful annuals like pansies, snapdragons, or nemesia. Because these flowers are replaced each year, you can refresh the colors and style each season, keeping your garden constantly updated and vibrant.
6) Hostas and Perennials Around Mature Trees
If you have a large, older tree, fill the space around it with a generous mix of hostas and other shade-friendly perennials. Their different leaf textures and flower shapes help cover bare ground and create a lush, cohesive look. A layer of mulch keeps the soil moist and makes the whole design look polished.
7) Minimalist Rock Garden with Japanese Maple
For a serene, Japanese-inspired garden, plant a Japanese maple and surround it with smooth river stones, moss, and gravel. The maple’s elegant leaves add color and movement, while the rocks and moss create a relaxing, low-maintenance landscape. This design is perfect if you love simplicity and calm aesthetics.
8) Modern Circular White-Flower Bed
Create a round flower bed around the tree and fill it with white blooms like petunias or begonias. The bright white flowers contrast beautifully with the tree trunk and greenery, giving the area a clean, modern look. It’s simple yet highly elegant.
9) Hostas Around a Majestic Maple Tree
A tall maple tree becomes even more impressive when surrounded by groups of hostas in different colors. You can add stepping stones, moss patches, or natural rocks to enhance the woodland feeling, creating a shady garden corner that feels rich in texture.
10) Colorful Perennial Flower Bed Encircling Tree
Using a ring of perennials like coneflowers and black-eyed Susans creates a colorful halo around your tree. Adding small groundcovers such as alyssum brings soft edges and helps fill gaps, making the whole arrangement feel full and lively.
11) Curved Magnolia & Snowdrop Garden
Pairing graceful magnolia trees with clusters of snowdrops at the base creates a soft, romantic look. A curved border makes the design feel natural and flowing, while the snowdrops give your garden a delicate springtime touch.
12) Winding Pathway with Hostas & Mulch
Design winding, mulch-covered paths that gently curve around your trees. Line them with hostas and other shade plants for an inviting, layered landscape. This creates a woodland walkway feel and makes the area more walkable and visually appealing.
13) Circular Hostas and Moss Garden
A circle filled with hostas and moss under a tree creates a calming, woodland-inspired space. The lush hostas bring big leaves while moss gives a soft carpet-like layer — together forming a peaceful green oasis perfect for shady gardens.
14) Succulent Oasis Under a Desert Tree
In dry climates, surround your tree with tough, drought-loving succulents like agave or aloe. Use sandy soil, gravel, and rustic wooden borders to complete the look. This creates a desert-style oasis that stays beautiful without much water or care.
15) Ferns and Violets for a Woodland Retreat
Mix ferns and violets under your tree for a charming forest-floor look. Ferns add height and texture, while violets bring spots of soft color. Organic mulch helps keep moisture in the soil and enhances the natural woodland feel.
16) Bright Perennial Border Under Tree
Use flowers like salvia, lilies, and impatiens to create a colorful border around your tree. Mixing different heights and colors adds richness and drama. This works especially well if you want a vibrant, eye-catching garden centerpiece.
17) Curved Brick Border with Snowdrops
Outline your tree bed with curved bricks or stones to create a tidy, structured shape. Fill the inside with snowdrops or other early-spring flowers for a charming, elegant look that brightens your garden at the start of the season.
18) Circular Bench Surrounded by Petunias
Add a circular bench around your tree to create a cozy seating area. Surround the bench with colorful annuals or perennials, like petunias, to make the space even more inviting. It’s a great way to combine function and beauty.
19) Vibrant Perennial Flower Arrangement
Create a dynamic, textured garden using clusters of marigolds, lavender, phlox, and daisies around your tree. Grouping flowers adds visual impact and makes the space feel cheerful and energetic. This design is full of color and movement.
20) Lush Perennial Bed Around a Majestic Tree
A big tree becomes even more beautiful when encircled by bold, colorful flowers like marigolds and black-eyed Susans. Adding foliage plants enhances depth and makes the space feel warm and welcoming.
21) Serene Hostas Around a Grand Tree
For a calm, peaceful design, surround your tree with large clumps of hostas and subtle white blooms. Add natural stone edging to keep everything neat, and mix in shade plants to form a soothing, layered landscape.
22) Perennial Flower Bed in Bright Mixes
Use purple coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and soft alyssum to build a bright, season-long flower bed around your tree. The combination of colors creates a lively, beautiful display that feels full and balanced.
23) Modern Succulent and Cypress Arrangement
Pair a cypress tree with succulents and ornamental grasses for a clean, contemporary garden look. Adding natural elements like driftwood brings texture and character while keeping maintenance low.
24) Rock Garden with Perennial Groundcovers
Combine rocks or boulders with perennial groundcovers such as creeping thyme or clover to form a rugged yet green landscape. This style brings a natural, earthy vibe and requires minimal upkeep.
25) Minimalist Gravel Garden with a Tree
For a simple, uncluttered design, surround your tree with gravel, moss, and a few low-maintenance plants. This creates a clean look with modern lines — perfect if you want a minimalist garden space.
26) Bright Perennial Flower Display
A mix of lavender, daisies, calendulas, and other colorful blooms can create a cheerful, lively ring around your tree. Plant in clusters for strong impact and choose varieties that thrive in your climate.
27) Modern Succulent Landscape Around Tree
Use agave, trailing succulents, and gravel to design a modern, layered landscape around your tree. The mixture of textures and shapes creates a sculptural look with very little maintenance required.
28) Circular Daffodil and Grass Arrangement
Plant daffodils and ornamental grasses in a neat circular layout around the tree for a fresh, spring-inspired display. The mix of bright yellows and soft greenery gives the area a vibrant yet natural feel.
🌱 Extra Tips to Make Your Tree Landscaping Shine
- Choose plants that match your tree’s sunlight and soil needs
- Use groundcovers to stop weeds and retain moisture
- Add mulch or gravel for a neat, low-maintenance finish
- Include walkways to make the space functional
- Install soft lighting to highlight the tree at night
- Mix plant heights for depth and dimension
- Pick colors that complement your garden
- Add seating to enjoy the shade
- Combine plants that offer beauty in different seasons
