Plant trees/shrubs now?

Hi experts,

I'll have cleared a lot of my gravel in the next few weeks, and i eagerly cant wait till next spring to plant anything. I want to start with the trees and shrubs (perenials) to start with, because last year all i planted were marigolds and now i have nothing to show for it because they've all died.

When can i next start planting perenials and what can i plant? I've got clay soil by the way.

 

Hi NewbieGreen
No way am I an expert but I have been cursed with the "clay" as you yourself have.
This time last year I moved house and went from lovely soil to the stickly stuff.

All I can say is one part of the garden I didn't improve the soil and planted like crazy bulbs, shrubs, perenials etc.
Not good I'm afraid the bulbs were wonderful of the ones that flowered but most of them started to rot so had to be removed elsewhere.

Here's a link to a site for clay improvement
clay

If you don't want to go to the trouble to improve your soil below is a list of clay-loving plants that you can have a go at growing.

1. Aster tartaricus
2. Astilbe
3. Bee balm, Monarda
4. Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia
5. Bugleweed, Ajuga reptans
6. Butterfly bush, Buddleia davidii
7. Canna
8. Coreopsis
9. Creeping phlox, Phlox subulata
10. Crinum
11. Daffodil, Narcissus
12. Daylily, Hemerocallis
13. Deutzia, Deutzia gracilis
14. False indigo, Baptisia
15. Flowering quince, Chaenomeles japonica
16. Gaura
17. Goatsbeard, Aruncus aethusifolius
18. Joe-pye weed, Eupatorium
19. Milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa
20. Miscanthus, Miscanthus sinensis
21. Miss Huff lantana, Lantana 'Miss Huff'
22. Obedient plant, Physostegia virginiana
23. Oxeye daisy, Heliopsis
24. Purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea
25. Salvia
26. Spirea, Spiraea
27. Sunflower, Helianthus
28. Swamp hibiscus, Hibiscus coccineus
29. Winterberry, Ilex verticillata
30. Witch hazel, Hamamelis vernalis

Helen.xxx.

 

clay soil is very fertile just add organic matter or some of your gravel!to improve the drainage worked wonders for me, garden is happilly growing like mad!