Working with clay soil can be tricky due to its packed nature. Composed of markedly small particles packed tightly together, this type of substrate can act much like concrete. Not particularly well-draining, especially after periods of rainfall, it can deprive certain plants of much-needed oxygen. When it does dry up, it can be stubbornly hard and may crack. Fortunately, there are plants and gardening styles that can bring out the best features of clay soil!
Dig out a wildlife pond. Clay-based substrates are some of the best media for lining wildlife ponds. As they are non-porous, less water tends to seep through packed layers.
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Pave pathways so that they don’t get waterlogged after periods of heavy rainfall. Clay soils can get muddy and may be difficult to walk through when drenched. Paving should help maintain the stability of your paths.
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Cultivate diverse plots of deep-rooted shrubs and grasses. Their sturdy and extensive root systems should help improve the quality of the substrate, gradually increasing its drainage capacity.
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Plants requiring more drainage can be grown in raised plots. You may amend the substrate in these dedicated plots, creating spaces where increased porousness allows root systems to permeate through deeper layers.
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Make room for vegetable beds. Those with shallow root systems and a preference for clay-based soils, like lettuce and snap beans, can thrive in clay gardens.
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Grow specimen trees that favor heavy, clay-based soils. Crab apple trees and birch trees can look great on their own or in orchard rows. They can improve the texture of clay soils and create an understory where shade-loving shrubs and herbs may thrive.
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Fill out gaps with tufts of coneflowers and other wildflowers that are native to your region. These are more likely to survive in the clay mixtures found in your garden.
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Line your garden’s trails and slopes with stones, rocks, or bricks. These should help prevent slipping accidents on wet days.
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Plants that are more sensitive to packed substrates can be restricted to pots. The soil in these can be a mixture of your garden’s substrates and larger components (e.g., stones, small pieces of wood) for increased drainage.
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Consider sticking to a palette of colors that complements the appearance of your substrate. Warm-toned clay particles can look great below swathes of red and orange blooms, whereas cooler tones can highlight the silvery and light green hues of grasses and herbs.
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Convert some zones into water or rain gardens. Areas along the base of a slope, where water tends to pool, may be sites where the clay soil remains wet or moist for longer durations. These are best outfitted with water-loving plants.
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Maintain rows of swamp milkweed to encourage pollinators to visit your clay garden. This moisture-loving shrub is often found in natural corridors that are visited by the monarch butterfly and many other valued pollinators.
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Place garden furniture on raised patios or platforms. A firm floor should help protect them from getting damaged by excess moisture or unstable ground (especially during rainy days).
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Try your hand at growing clay-tolerant, ornamental grasses for more texture, vertical complexity, and depth. Apart from adding more life to your garden, these tend to have vigorous root systems; over time, they’ll form extensive networks in the most challenging of substrates.
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Cultivate yarrow and vinca cultivars with a tolerance for packed soils. Once they have formed wide stands, they’ll function as visually appealing groundcover.
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If you’re frustrated with the limits associated with clay soils, grow a vertical garden instead. Hanging pots of succulents, flowering containers, and trailing plants can be used to add visual interest without having to thoroughly amend bottom substrates. Just make sure the soil mixture surrounding their roots meets their respective preferences.
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Liberally coat your substrate and steps with all manner of rocks and stones. These can help anchor plants and should encourage rainwater to flow more evenly across the garden’s surface.
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Rototill lengthy plots of clay with stubborn surface layers of organic matter. This should thoroughly aerate the soil, prepping it for tender young plants that may struggle to survive in packed substrates.
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Maintain a predominantly flat garden to prevent water from pooling into certain areas. Slopes and hills can unfortunately force moisture to collect in the lowest parts of a clay garden. Pools of water may grow stagnant in these areas and may cause surrounding plants to decay.
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If you’re averse to the thought of a flat garden, you might wish to create funnels or artificial streams through which water may flow from a higher level. Note that, during periods of heavy rainfall, these may overflow and inundate bordering plots. Make sure they contain plants that can tolerate brief periods of excess moisture.
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Add color by cultivating plots of roses. Roses tend to delight in clay substrates. Their roots can easily survive in heavy clay. Mix compost into your clay to encourage them to quickly become established.
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Convert existing slopes into raised alpine beds. By restricting moisture-sensitive plants to raised beds, they are less likely to suffer from the poor drainage of clay soils.
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Convert the most challenging areas into spots with hard surfaces. If no plants seem to thrive in certain zones of the clay garden, consider placing structures, paving, or raised platforms instead.
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A garden shed or a greenhouse can also be constructed in the most stubborn plots of soil. Leave the more versatile areas free of structures or paving to make room for plants. Naturalize the borders of structures with clay-loving shrubs.
Final Thoughts
Many inexperienced gardeners fret at the thought of having to design and work with a clay garden. Though this type of substrate indeed comes with many challenges, it also has its redeeming qualities. Just as clay for pottery can be sculpted into all sorts of forms, a clay garden can be converted into a fertile haven for life. Don’t forget that certain sections can always be amended with compost or thoroughly tilled to improve conditions for plant growth. Don’t let clay soil dampen your plans to have a well-designed garden!
