advice on clay soil please?

Question

hi there could anyone give some advice on what to do with clay soil, we are both new to gardening and the garden is large and rock hard, we dont just want grass and nothing ,but ideas on how we can make the soil a little softer and what sort of plants would be a great help

Answer 1

If you are new to gardening I suggest you plant roses - they are fairly easy to grow and do well on clay soil. Make sure you plant the knobbly bit well into the ground most people don't plant that bit deep enough. Then feed the roses with good horse manure twice yearly and in one or two years time the earthworms will have done all the digging for you!

Underplant with sage and some spring bulbs - tall red tulips, hyacinth, daffodils. Spotted laurel (acuba) does well too, if you want an evergreen.

If your garden is big enough you could include a crab apple, you might just have time to get one in this year.

Answer 2

The most success remedy for clay soil is gypsum. Add to the soil with organic matter. It only needs to be added to the soil up to 3 times (once a year) depending on how 'clayey' your soil is, it permanently stays in the soil to create air and drainage passage for the soil.

PH tests do not show how much clay is in the soil, they only show the acidity/alkalinity of the soil.

Over the years the soil will gradually improve, and always add as much organic matter as you can. There is no quick fix for clay, just gradual improvement.

There have been a lot of questions asked about clay soils on this site lately use the search for questions at the top of the page and you will get some more suggestions.

Check out the BBC gardening site. England has very clay soils and see what plants they suggest. I find English trees and shrubs cope well especially if the soil is kept moist. Good Luck.

Answer 3

Prior to my answer all were good suggestions. Clay is a tricky soil to work with. The question tends to indicate that this is a new homestead or one in lack of maintenance for years.
It is correct that everything will require a great deal of hand and backbreaking labor. Please go to your local county extension agent and ask for a soil test to determine the extent of the clay content. They can do a simple Ph test which will tell you roughly where you stand.
Clay soils need organic materials and filtration to become real soils. You can do this by hand or rent a very small roto-tiller, however, incorporate one bag of Sphagnum Moss per 50 sq ft of garden. Break the clay up first then add the Moss. In addition add a fifty lb bag of granular gypsum (real cheap) or even untreated kitty litter and roto-till until the mixture is evenly distributed.
Your soil will turn to fully fertilized, neutral, and drained within three to four years. It can then support any plantings. I supervised the Landscape areas of Drexel University for over twenty years. If you can find a more clay soil, aside from brick itself, I welcome it. I am at [e-mail]. Good Luck.
Do not plant any evergreens or perennial plants for the first two years, if possible. Most annuals depend on the degree of light, the water available, care, and temp. when purchased in flats. You can have a splendid garden of color for the spring through fall despite the clay.
Remove the plants, roots and all, when die-back occurs. Do the same process the following spring, except, you will use topsoil versus the gypsum. You can then add the evergreens to the garden provided you feed them with an acid based fertilizer.

Answer 4

Mix some bags of top soil in with your clay and add some worms. I've noticed that Shaggy Maples, Hostas, Iris, Mums, Forcithia, and other bushes, tend to like clay soil. Buy locally this way your garden supply will know your conditions and can make some reccomendations on other plants, bushes and trees that you like. Don't forget to consider your region's temperature as well. I'm in a freeze thaw region and the plants that I've suggested thrive here.

Take care,

Jen

Answer 5

The combination of clay and surrounding conifers is not very conducive to other plants being able to survive. You can dig the clay and work in lots of organic materials like peat and manure which will help to loosen the soil and make it easier for new plants to establish themselves. The conifers have two main things that will affect other plant life They will take up most of the moisture from the ground to the disadvantage of the other plants and they will cause a lot of shade will again the majority of plants don't like. Assuming that you don't want to remove any of the trees you can only try to improve the soil and to try and pick the brightest spots to try a few plants. You have a choice of shrubs,perennials and annuals. I would try annuals firstly as you will be able to see more quickly if you are succeeding. Perhaps something like geraniums which can survive drier conditions than a lot of other summer plants and give a lovely splash of colour. It's all a matter of trial and error over the next few years.

Answer 6

The good news is that clay soil is very fertile so once you've sorted it out you should'nt have any trouble finding suitable plants. I also had clay soil when i moved to my new house 3 years ago. You can add sand or horticultural grit,(a lot of it) or add lots of organic matter, compost, leaf mould composted bark, anything that will break down the clay particles. Sand works well and it's a permanent solution, the OM can be done in spring and autumn. Make sure you dig in well. Good luck. x

Answer 7

There are a few things you can do but unfortunately all of them entail a great deal of hard work!
1 Dig out all the clay and replace it with good quality top soil
2 Dig out the turf and dig in a mixture of organic matter and top soil
3 Level the lot and concrete it (low maintenance)
4 Build raised beds and gravel inbetween

Depending on the severity of your clay there are a number of plants which grow well in clay for example Roses and Primroses which would give you spring flowers with the primroses and blooms from the roses the rest of the year providing you deadhead them regularly!
I hope this helps you and good luck with your garden but remember that a lot of work at the beginning can reap benefits at the end!

Answer 8

I would be careful about tilling-in peat moss as one reader has suggested. The purpose of peat moss is to retain moisture in the soil. The problem with clay soil is that water won't drain through it so the peat may add to the problem. If you build raised beds, remember that the water will collect above the clay and below the planter so make the beds deep. Good luck---

Answer 9

If you dig down 12"-14" ( that will keep you slim) add a lot of sand, 4", and an equal amount of loam or peat and mix it all together, this will give you some plantable soil..You could raise the planting area( make a box out of 2x12's) and fill this boxed in area with decent soil you will create the same effect with less work....Orrrr you can lay down cement blocks in a box type thing and fill with soil of your choice....

Answer 10

All you need to do is dig in as much sharp sand as possible.This will break up the clay surprisingly quickly.You can get a ton bag delivered from your local builders supply merchant.

then plenty of compost.

Roses love compact clay soil so you can leave one bed untouched for them.