Gardening Basics

There Is A Way, Around Clay That Is!

Red mud. Its actually clay, but red clay just doesn’t roll off the tongue as easy.

Clay soil is problematic. It is sticky, heavy, wet and stinky making it tough to work with. It is slow to drain after a storm, slow to warm in the spring and difficult for plant root to penetrate.

When gardening in a site with clay soil you will need to decide whether to accept the soil as it is or try to change it. Changing the soil structure can be a massive undertaking and, over time, clay soil reverts back to its original state. We strongly encourage you to amend your soil and grow whatever makes you the happiest, regardless of what your soil is! We have an amazing amendment called “Tost” that will fix even the worst of solid clay soils. Check out our “How To Plant Guide” For further education.

How To Properly Plant Your Newly Adopted Plant

It is always best, and easiest, to select plants that thrive in the type of soil in which you are planting rather than changing your soil to suit the plant. Remember, also, select plants that sun and soil pH requirements match the soil that your are planting in. This will ensure that they are appropriate and will thrive in your chosen site.

PLANTS FOR CLAY SOIL

Trees
Bald Cypress Taxodium distchum
Crabapple Malus Sp.
Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis
Hawthorns Crataegus Sp.
Hornbeams Carpinus Sp.
Pin Oak Quercus paulstris
River Birch Betula nigra
Saucer Magnolia Magnolia soulangiana
Spruce Picea Sp.
Linden Tillia Sp.
Upright English Oak Quercus robur fastigiata
Willow Salix Sp.
Shrubs
Aucuba Aucuba japonica
Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis
Burning Bush Euonymus alatus
Cotoneaster Cotoneaster Sp.
Dwarf Norway Spruce Picea abies
Forsythia Forsythia intermedia
Hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla
Inkberry Ilex glabra
Japanese Barberry Berberis thunbergii
Korean Boxwood Buxus microphylla
Lilac Syringa Sp.
Oregon Grape Holly Mahonia aquifolium
Plume Cypress Chamaecyparis pisifera
Potentilla Potentilla fruticosa
Smokebush Cotinus coggygria
Twig Dogwoods Cornus Sp.
Viburnum Viburnum Sp.
Weigela Weigela florida
Willow Salix Sp.
Perennials
Aster Aster Sp.
Beebalm Mondarda didyma
Berginia Berginia cordifolia
Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia Sp.
Daylilies Hemerocallis Sp.
Forget-Me-Not Myosotis scoriodes
Gooseneck Loosestrife Lysimachia clethroides
Helen’s Flower Helenium Sp.
Jacob’s Ladder Polemonium Sp.
Japanese Anemone Anemone japonica
Lady’s Mantle Alchemilla mollis
Ligularia Ligularia Sp.
Mayapple Podophyllum Sp.
Monkshood Aconitum Sp.
Bulbs
Checkered Lily Fritillaria meleagris
Small Camas Camassia quamash
Snowdrops Galanthus Sp.
Summer Snowflake Leucojum aestivum
Winter Aconite Eranthis hyemalis







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