How can I best prevent my plants from drying out & dying when planted near to a tree?

I suppose it depends on the plants you choose, the type of tree e.g evergreen/deciduous.

Why not try and replicate what works in a natural environment?

For spring some Crocus, snowdrops etc.

A recent Gardeners World also higlighted Hellebores under the woodland canopy. Am sure Ferns would cope with the shade too.

Thank you for your reply.
The tree is deciduous and the border is in full sun during the afternoon (not shaded by the tree). I need to try and stop the ground from drying out too quickly hence wondering if the landscape fabric membrane would help?

I wouldnt use a membrane. I would mulch regularly with leaf mould /compost to help keep moisture in. grow plants that are drought tollerant such as euphorbias and any silver leaved plants that come from the med as they will like the drier conditions.

A membrane is not going to stop the tree from taking all the water in the surrounding soil the only thing that will help is mulching and being prepared to water if you have a long dry spell... When we came back from Cyprus Bulba. had to put the sprinkler on the whole garden as it had been so hot and windy drying everything out but we prefer not to do that if possible. If you live where the hosepipe ban is then you need to look seriously at what it is feasible to grow under your tree as ferns and hellebores need moist soil.

Thanks again for your advise!
I will consider your comments and get busy over the Easter break.

As a last resort Euphorbia Robiniae will grow there and flourish once established. It has lime green flowers for a long time in Spring - they are out now. However it likes to take over, which is why I said as a last resort. I have a flourishing patch under a pine where it is dust dry.

you could put a raised bed there and put a membrane at the bottem and then plant in that . the membrane will just stop any tree roots from getting in the raised bed so much .

Thank you, I appreciate your help very much.
I have aquired some plastic sheeting and will try digging down to say 18" (or until exposing the tree roots if shallower), lay the sheeting down then backfill with a mixture of soil and compost with bone meal thrown in. I will then put a layer of bark over the top, water well and hope this solves the problem.

Tim plastic sheeting is not porous so you are going to end up with stagnant water if and when it becomes wet. Not something I would recommend.

Oh dear I hadn't though of that, I guess making fork holes in the plastic sheeting wont help either as the tree will still suck the water away. Guess the mulching idea is the best solution. Will give it a try. Thanks!

I would suggest too that any pots you empty out of soil that you put it in that section of your garden. Any bulbs you move.... put them there too. You can put large plastic coke bottles in to water direct to the roots of plants you want to fuss over. I do this in a section of garden under a mature hawthorn and everything gets along OK...not too many losses.

Mulching really is the best solution Tim