North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

I've had daffodils under several apple trees for many years.  They bloom before the trees leaf out, they show no signs of any competition, but the one drawback is that you have to leave the area where they grow unmowed until the daffodil leaves mature.  Otherwise you'll have to hand weed them.  If you have more than a few trees with daffodils, that can add up to serious amounts of time.  And if you mow before the leaves die back, no flowers next year.
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at http://www.bunchgrapes.com  Winner of the Garden Writers Association "Best Talent in Writing" award for 2003.
On Apr 12, 2006, at 4:38 AM, list@ginda.us wrote:

Has anyone planted daffodils or other bulbs under fruit trees?   
Daffodils do most of their business before the trees come into leaf,  
so the shade shouldn't be much of a problem.  But how badly do the  
daffodils compete with the trees for nutrients, and water?  I'm  
thinking of putting in some daffodils under my little apricot.

Thanks,
Ginda