Clay Soil

Hello All,

There are probably far too many questions here, so I apologise in advance!

I have a large border backing onto a hedge. The soil is clay, with high alkalinity. I had planted Rhododendrons and Azalea�s, but they weren�t doing well and so they are now in pots with ericaceous compost and are flowering happily. I would like to put the plants back in the border, and thought of keeping them in their pots, but I�m worried that they will become pot bound, and eventually die. I'm not at all sure what I can do with the clay soil and I would be very grateful for any advice that you could offer.

I would also appreciate any advice on small evergreen, flowering shrubs that actually like the soil that I have?

 

Hi Daisy, I assume you have already read the tips in the other topic on clay soil in this section...not sure about alkalinity though :confused:

 

Hi Daisy - if your clay soil is highly alkaline then none of the acid lovers like rhodies, azaleas, camelia, heathers, will do well. If you want to grow them, it will have to be in containers - with ericacous compost and miracid to feed - and watering with rain water. Unusual for clay to be high alkaline - its usually either neutral or slightly alkaline.

You can certainly sink the pots in the ground to give a more natural effect - as long as you keep feeding and watering - however watch the the roots growing through the drainage holes.

Other than the acid lovers a lorra plants do well in cultivated clay - due to its rich nutrients and water retention - though not the hot dry lovers.

 

Hi Daisy, I assume you have done a soil test? You can actually change the alkalinity of your soil by adding copious amounts of peat and other ericaceous composts. You should also get some Flowers of Sulphate from your chemist, after treating your soil with this for about 2 years it should be acid enough for your Rhodo`s and Azaleas. David.

 

If its Dorset I am wondering whether it clay over chalk or limestone, in which case you would need one heck of a lot of flowers of sulphate to turn it acid.
If you sink the pots in the ground then some alkaline soil water will get in the pots. The only answer is a raised bed, that is filled with ericaceous compost.