Clay Soils

Heavy clay soils are difficult to work they are compacted and sticky leading to poor drainage, they also bake hard during dry spells and are slow to warm up in spring, this means the roots of plants have difficulty growing in these conditions taking a while to get established. Waiting until later in spring to plant when the soil has warmed will help plants get established or plant trees, shrubs and roses in autumn when the soil is still warm. Planting on slight mounds or adding grit to the planting hole will help with drainage.

This type of soil can be improved over time with work sometimes taking years to amend this type of soil. Digging rough in autumn and leaving over winter to let the frost break down the soil naturally, incorporating plenty of organic matter and compost, corse grit or sand will help to open up the soil helping immensely, given time with work this type of soil does retain nutrients and will accommodate a wide range of plants. To stop the soil drying out during summer apply a mulch around the plants to retain moisture.

Alpines
Arabis
Sedum

Climbers
Hedera
Vitis Coignetiae

Trees
Aesculus (Horse Chestnut)
Betula
Hornbeam
Laburnum
Malus ( Crab Apple)
Populus
Quercus (Oak)
Sorbus
Taxodium Distichum (Bald Cypress)