A prairie beneath trees

Q Can I create prairie planting beneath my large trees? Peggy Green, Leicestershire

A Prairies are tree-free areas but you might opt for shade-tolerant grasses such as Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, Chasmanthium latifoliumlatifolium, Deschampsia cespitosa cespitosa, Hakonechloa macra, Luzula sysylvatica and Milium effusum ‘Aureum’ with grass-like Liriope muscari and ferns for dry shade. These include Asplenium scolopendrium, Blechnum spicant, Dryopteris filix-mas, Matteuccia struthiopteris and Polystichum setiferum. Into the mix you could also include Alchemilla mollis, hardy geraniums, Tellima grandiflora and Vinca minor as possible herbaceous plants.