Clay soil

I live in an area where clay is prevalent and therefore we often yo yo between waterlogged and cracked ground. What plants/shrubs etc would thrive best in this type of ground?

 

Hi Osbaldwick

The question of clay comes up quite regularly. The first thing I would do if possible is to try to improve the soil. I raised a thread on this some time ago, which explains how to improve clay. http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/improving-clay-t8892.html?t=8892&highlight=improving+clay

 

What Peter says.

It can be done - I'm on clay and manage fine, but I know what you mean about either cracking or waterlogged.

Below is a picture taken last summer of part of my herbaceous border, just to prove it can be done!

 

SussexG - that picture looks fantastic. But in view of the recent recognition threads - the first thing I did was to start trying to identify them. :D

I can see Euphorbia, Hemerocallis, Allium christophii heads, Lychnis coronaria (do you have a white one as well?). Alchemilla mollis, Crocosmia Lucifer, possibly white Phlox on the left, but not sure of the two large white clumps.

Perhaps, later on we could have a see how many plants in this picture you can name quiz!

 

In that pic (from what I can see too!) left to right (ish), there is Feverfew, Sidalcea (the pink glimpse), Artemisia, Euphorbia (didn't bloom last year), Crocosmia, Day Lily, Lychnis Coronaria, Curry Plant (yellow), Achillea, Lady's Mantle, Gaillardia, some Allium seed heads...and a few I can't remember...

It was taken in June so the Phlox came later!

I like the idea of 'name that plant in a very packed herbaceous border'!

 

Thanks for the responses. There is hope, clearly....!!

 

The good news is though that clay is packed with nutrients I have clay, and used the conditioning techniques, and it does work well, just takes a lot of hard work and a fair bit of time.