20+ Inspiring Landscaping Ideas to Transform the Space Around Your Tree

One spring morning, I stood under the old maple tree in my front yard, staring at the messy patch of dirt below it. The rest of the yard had flourished—flowerbeds bursting with color, the grass thick and lush—but that circle around the tree felt forgotten. I’d always avoided it, thinking the roots were too shallow, the light too scarce.

But that morning, something shifted. Maybe it was the way the early sun filtered through the branches, casting gentle shadows in perfect rings. Or maybe I was just tired of apologizing for that bare spot every time someone came over. Either way, I got to work.

I laid stones. I planted hostas and shade-loving begonias. I tucked in a little bird statue my daughter made in school. When I stepped back, I didn’t see a neglected patch anymore—I saw a story. A place of peace. A gathering spot for birds, squirrels, and more than a few curious neighbors.

Ever since, I’ve believed that the space around a tree is one of the most beautiful canvases in the garden. It just takes a little love, a few clever ideas, and maybe a memory or two tucked into the soil.

#1. Floral Landscape Around Tree Base

When my neighbor June lost her husband, she turned to her garden for comfort. I remember walking past her yard one morning and stopping in awe—she had planted a full circle of marigolds, pansies, and begonias around their old oak tree. She told me, “He always loved color, especially right here in the morning light.”

That circle didn’t just brighten her garden—it lifted the whole street.

If you’ve got a tree with dappled sun beneath it, flowers can thrive there. Choose plants that tolerate partial shade like:

• Impatiens

• Astilbe

• Hostas

• Heuchera

Lay out your bed in layers: tall plants toward the trunk, medium next, and trailing flowers along the edge for a waterfall effect of blooms.

#2. Elegant Pebble and Pot Tree Design

One weekend, I found an old ceramic pot at a flea market—cracked along one side but with the most beautiful cobalt glaze. Rather than toss it, I tipped it sideways beneath the ash tree and poured a river of white pebbles from its mouth like a story spilling out. I planted creeping Jenny and lemon thyme along the edges. By summer, it looked like a fairytale.

This design adds movement and creativity without overwhelming the space. Here’s how to do it:

• Partially bury a large ceramic pot on its side.

• “Spill” white or black polished pebbles outward in a loose fan shape.

• Add contrasting foliage plants for texture—like ferns, lamb’s ear, or low succulents.

It works beautifully in both minimalist and whimsical gardens.

#3. Lush Succulent Garden Around Tree Base

During a summer drought, I swapped my usual thirsty flower beds for something easier to maintain—and surprisingly fun. I gathered all my mismatched terracotta pots and filled them with echeveria, hens-and-chicks, and trailing string-of-pearls. Arranged in staggered heights under my redbud tree, they created a sculptural little succulent garden that turned heads all season.

This setup is great for dry climates or shaded spots with morning sun.

#4. Rustic Ladder Planter for Tree Decor

The wooden ladder came from my grandfather’s barn—one side cracked, the steps worn smooth by years of use. I couldn’t bear to throw it away, so I propped it against the walnut tree and tucked potted flowers onto each step. Just like that, it found a second life.

A ladder planter leans into the tree like it belongs there—inviting height, layers, and a bit of nostalgia.

Here’s how to bring it to life:

• Choose a weathered wooden ladder or distress a new one with sandpaper.

• Anchor it gently into the soil for stability.

• Place pots of petunias, nasturtiums, or herbs on each step.

• Wind some trailing vines up the rungs for added softness.

It’s an eye-catching way to showcase blooms while recycling something with history.

#5. Simple Wooden Raised Bed for Trees

I once had a maple tree whose roots snaked right up to the surface—every time I mowed, I worried about nicking them. The solution? A raised bed. Not too deep, just enough to add a buffer and allow shallow-rooted flowers to flourish.

Built from simple wooden planks in a wide ring, this idea does more than look neat—it protects and beautifies.

#6. Curved Gabion Bench Around Tree

It’s funny how a stone can feel soft when it’s arranged with care. That’s what I thought the first time I sat on a curved gabion bench beneath a friend’s willow tree. The metal frame was filled with river stones—strong, grounded—and the wooden seat, though simple, felt like it belonged there. Like it had always been waiting.

Gabion benches are equal parts function and art. They hug the base of your tree, creating a seating nook that invites pause.

To craft one yourself:

• Form a semi-circle or full ring using gabion cages.

• Fill with smooth stones or local rock for that rustic-meets-modern vibe.

• Top with thick wooden planks, sealed for weather resistance.

It’s a space for reading, resting, or just watching the branches dance above you.

#7. Heart-Shaped Floral Garden Around Tree

They say a garden reflects its gardener. One couple down my street proved it—after their anniversary, they shaped a heart of vibrant blooms around the cherry tree in their front yard. At first, I thought it was just decorative. Then I noticed: every plant had been chosen with a memory in mind. Lavender for calm evenings, daisies from her bridal bouquet, creeping thyme they used in Sunday roasts.

Designing a heart around your tree is more than cute—it’s a quiet declaration of what you love.

Planting ideas for your own heart bed:

• Use white pebbles to outline the shape clearly.

• Fill one half with bold color (like begonias or salvia), the other with soft, feathery greens.

• Add a bench at the edge to enjoy it up close.

No one passes by without smiling.

#8. Whimsical Fairy Garden Tree Design

This one’s for the child in all of us. When my niece was six, she whispered, “A fairy would definitely live under that tree.” So, we made it happen. A tiny door at the base. Painted rocks. A mushroom-shaped solar light. By evening, it glowed like something out of a bedtime story.

Creating a fairy garden doesn’t require perfection—it only asks for imagination.

You’ll need:

• Mini windows and doors (you can find kits or DIY with popsicle sticks).

• Small figurines—gnomes, toadstools, animals.

• Low-growing plants like moss, thyme, or Irish moss for a soft, magical carpet.

• Twinkle lights or lanterns for a nighttime sparkle.

You don’t need to tell anyone what it’s for. They’ll feel it.

#9. Creative Spiral Rock Garden Design

There’s something calming about a spiral—how it loops inward, slow and steady. I first saw this rock spiral around a cedar tree at a botanical park. Even without flowers, it was stunning. Just carefully placed stones and succulents winding toward the trunk like a secret path.

It’s meditative, even to build. When it rains, the whole pattern deepens in color—like a living labyrinth.

#10. Rustic Wheel and Planter Tree Design

My grandfather’s old wheelbarrow sat rusting for years behind the shed. One day I pulled it out, planted marigolds in its bed, and propped it beside the elm tree with a broken rake and a watering can. Suddenly that forgotten corner was bursting with story.

Vintage touches around a tree tell a tale that grows with each season.

What works well:

• An old wagon wheel leaned against the bark

• A rusty chair used as a flower stand

• Wildflowers or cascading petunias planted in weathered metal buckets

You don’t need new. You just need something with soul.

#11. Adorable Swing Planter with Clay Characters

“Mom, the flower swing has a face!” my son exclaimed the first time he spotted our clay pot characters swaying gently beneath the pear tree. We’d painted simple eyes, rosy cheeks, and big grins onto little terracotta pots, then gave each one a “body” full of blooming petunias.

He named them Mr. Basil and Miss Marigold.

To create your own:

• Paint mini clay pots with friendly faces.

• Stack them on a dowel or string them to dangle like a swing.

• Use lightweight trailing plants as “hair” that flows with the breeze.

• Hang from a low, sturdy branch.

Children adore them. Guests pause to smile. And somehow, the garden feels more alive.

#12. Rustic Tree-Centered Outdoor Dining Table

We hosted my sister’s birthday under the old oak one July afternoon. Instead of a pop-up tent, we built the party around the tree itself—literally. My husband crafted a circular wood table with an opening in the middle so the trunk stood proudly through the center like a living sculpture.

Birdsong was our background music. No centerpiece needed.

To try something similar:

• Build or repurpose a wooden table in a circle, leaving space for the trunk.

• Surround with chairs or benches made from reclaimed wood or old garden stools.

• String fairy lights from the branches above.

It transforms the tree into part of the gathering—and every meal feels like a celebration of nature.

#13. Magical Watering Can Light Display

I first saw it during an evening stroll through my cousin’s garden—a soft cascade of glowing light, like moonlit water spilling from an invisible stream. It took me a second to realize the source: a simple metal watering can, suspended at an angle, with strands of warm fairy lights pouring downward into a basin of flowers.

It didn’t just light up the space—it enchanted it.

DIY Breakdown:

• Hang a metal watering can from a shepherd’s hook or branch.

• String solar-powered fairy lights through the spout.

• Let them trail downward into a flowerbed or decorative pot.

• Secure the lights discreetly with clear fishing line or floral wire.

This one’s perfect for twilight gardens and quiet summer nights.

#14. Vibrant Painted Stone Flower Garden

Rain kept washing away the flowers I’d planted beneath the front yard tree—too little sun, too much water. One day, out of sheer frustration and a leftover box of acrylic paint, I gathered smooth flat stones and painted them like flower petals. Bright blues, radiant oranges, yellows that popped against the mulch.

They didn’t wilt. They didn’t fade. And my son’s friends thought they were magical.

Tips to paint your own garden flowers:

• Use flat river stones or patio pavers.

• Acrylic outdoor paint holds up best, and a clear sealant helps it last longer.

• Arrange the petals in circles and place a small pot or solar light in the center.

This is one of those projects that looks like fun—and is.

#15. Charming Vibrant Birdhouse Tree Decor

“Every tree deserves neighbors,” my grandmother used to say. So I took her advice quite literally one spring and began hanging birdhouses—one by one, each painted a different color, size, and shape—from our backyard maple.

Now? We have a tree that hums with life and color, even in winter.

Make it meaningful:

• Use reclaimed wood or thrifted birdhouses to reduce cost.

• Let kids (or guests!) paint their own and add their name or favorite bird.

• Hang at varying heights for visual interest.

The birds find shelter. The tree finds personality. And your garden gains a community in the branches.

#16. Whimsical Painted Tire Tree Swings

Old tires used to pile up behind the shed—now they swing from branches like bursts of joy. We painted them in bold colors: sunshine yellow, sky blue, watermelon pink.

My daughter picked the purple one. “It’s my flying seat,” she said.

To make your own:

• Clean and paint tires with outdoor spray paint.

• Drill drainage holes at the base.

• Hang securely with strong rope from a thick, healthy branch.

They’re not just swings. They’re memories waiting to be made.

#17. Charming Tree Surround With Hanging Accents

A neighbor once hung tiny planters and lanterns from her magnolia tree, then added a handmade wooden sign that read: “Sit. Rest. Breathe.”

I took the advice. And the inspiration.

What works well:

• Small macramé hanging pots

• Painted signs or welcome plaques

• Birdhouses, wind chimes, or solar lanterns

Sometimes a tree doesn’t need grand landscaping—just tender details.

#18. Charming Rustic Bench Tree Display

There’s a bench beneath the dogwood in my yard where I’ve read, cried, laughed with friends, and watched the seasons change.

Simple. Wooden. Always there when I need to pause.

You can:

• Use a weathered bench for rustic charm

• Add potted plants or pumpkins by season

• Drape a throw for cooler months

Under a tree, even silence feels full.

#19. Vivid Floral Barrel Spill Display

It looks like the flowers tumbled out by accident—a burst of blooms flowing from a tipped barrel beside a tree. It’s playful, unexpected, and endlessly cheerful.

Here’s how:

• Partially bury an old barrel on its side

• Plant trailing flowers (like petunias or alyssum) at the mouth

• Add a stone border to shape the flow

It turns a static corner into a lively scene.

#20. Serene Hanging Hammock Chair Haven

One summer, I hung a hammock chair from our elm and called it “the thinking spot.” It’s where I drink iced tea, daydream, and sometimes do absolutely nothing.

Set it up:

• Choose a sturdy limb, high and strong

• Use secure straps and carabiners

• Add a cushion and light throw

It’s simple luxury—swinging gently under leaves and sky.

#21. Enchanting Miniature Fairy Garden Retreat

My friend Anna built an entire miniature fairy village beneath her spruce tree—with winding pebble paths, twig fences, and moss-covered cottages.

Her grandchildren visit every weekend, leaving “gifts” of acorns and tiny notes.

To build yours:

• Use natural elements: bark, moss, small rocks

• Add miniatures: houses, benches, a garden gate

• Keep it low and hidden—like a secret waiting to be found

A tree base becomes a world of wonder for little hands and big imaginations.

Final Thoughts: Let the Tree Tell Its Story

The space around a tree isn’t just landscape—it’s a canvas, a memory keeper, a quiet host to everything from play to reflection. Whether you dress it with fairy lights or nestle a bench beneath it, what matters most is that it speaks to you.

So take that first step—plant, paint, build, or simply sit. You don’t need perfection. Just a little love and a touch of nature’s magic.  I’d love to know—what’s your tree’s story?