If you want a flowering ground cover around the base of your trees, you likely want something reliable and low maintenance.

If you have the time, soak the tree well and allow to drain for an hour before planting. While this is ... Tease out some of the tree's fibrous roots around the edge of the rootball.

The soil beneath trees ... Allow plants to die down after flowering before mowing over the lawn. Alternatively, plant bulbs in defined areas so that it's possible to mow the lawn around them.