Clay soil gardens are finicky for plant species. However, there are plants that put up a fight and flourish in these harsh soil conditions.
Clay soils can become an ideal place to plant decorative plants, as long as you adapt their condition and turn it into a comfortable habitat. Certainly, this kind of terrain is not friendly to any species; but it is also true that quite a few shrubs and flowers thrive in them.
At first glance, the soils heavy (another way of calling them) look dehydrated, fragile and brittle. However, with proper drainage and special fertilizers, you will achieve a gardening and horticulture ground.
Of course, it is necessary to choose certain plants and provide them with relevant care. What varieties are we talking about? We reveal them below.
Characteristics of clayey soils
The clay soils are reddish and cracked. The main particularity is the proportion of clay they contain, in greater quantity than silt and sand, the other components of heavy ground.
They retain a lot of water, but their “micropores” tend to become saturated, which interferes with ventilation and causes stagnation.
a chapter of the book Advances in agronomy He comments as characteristics of clayey soils the demand for lime, its swelling when wet and contraction when dry. They also mention the delay in heating up in spring, the humidity in winter and how powerful they are so that plants do not suffer from drought, although they only provide them with half of the liquid they store.
Clay soils in gardening
Clay soils are not 100% docile for gardening. However, with the supply of nutrients they can be corrected. Composting, coarse sand and diatomaceous earth favor its structure.
In these plots, explains a publication from Utah State University, it is necessary to apply irrigation water at a slow pace and for long periods, so that it does not run off. They suggest 1 inch of water per 1 foot of depth; once it receives the liquid, it takes a long time to dry.
Thanks to its calcium content, gypsum is another of the elements used by gardeners to loosen the crust and tight density of the clay. As for aeration, it is feasible to incorporate thick forms of organic matter, such as degraded sawdust and chopped leaves, since they benefit the essential microorganisms to convert the compacted soil into fertile soil.
Clay gardens are demanding in terms of physical labor. But the flowering makes up for the effort with its beauty.
Plant species whose roots are shallow do best in clayey plantings.
Decorative plants that grow in clay soils
Ornamental plants that do well in clayey soils are those that tolerate drought, because they do not require that the ground be exhaustively prepared in its upper layer. However, some aquatic plants lend themselves to growing in them. For example, the following:
- Aeneas.
- Papyrus.
- parasites.
- Japanese lily.
- Elephant ear.
Other perfect decorative plants for clayey plots are the ones that we will now see.
1. Daylilies
HortScience refers that the lilies, genus HemerocallisThey prefer moist soils, but do not reject clayey ones. They thrive in soil with a pH between 6 and 8, ideal for enlivening their purple, yellow and red tones. They do not require meticulous maintenance; its flowers are given only one day, in which they take advantage of the benefits of the sun.
2. Aronia
In swampy clay or in a drier one, the aronias develop without problems (on cover photo). They do not need constant watering, although the young plants of this species do “ask” for hydration a couple of times a week. All are fed with compost.
The leaves are distinguished by their golden, yellow and orange range; its fruit is a purplish black edible berry. They grow on large trees or medium-sized shrubs.
3. Sunflower
An investigation published by the Journal of the Saudi Society for Agricultural Sciences notes that Providing certain amounts of boron in a silty clayey soil favors sunflower production.
Famous for their splendor and the pipes they offer, these flowers survive in full sun and amidst conditions beholding heavy soils. Among the species that adapt to these crops, the false sunflower or Helianthus x latiflorus the swamp sunflower or Helianthus angustifolius and the porthole or Heliopsis helianthoides.
4. Bulbs
Some bulbs, such as peonies and Liatrisfor example, survive in heavy soils. These are easy-to-grow plants, flowering once a season, in mid to late spring. These plants show different colors, sizes and shapes.
5. Passionate
If they have good drainage, asters work in clayey and slightly acidic soils. The palette of this species walks through purple, blue, pink and white tones. They appreciate being in full sun or with a little shade, for flowering at the end of summer and arrival of autumn.
6. Button cap
Its flowers look like a pincushion, striking among the foliage of green leaves. They adapt to moist clayey soils.as well as those with regular hydration.
7. Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta is the scientific name of the Susan black-eyed, an elegant perennial wildflower, suitable for heavy soils. This variety of daisies features golden petals surrounding a black center.
They are perfect at attracting bees and other pollinators.. The more moisture the soil retains, the more they will spread.
The United States Department of Agriculture notes that this species integrates into clayey soils, with light or moderate to dry moisture. The obligation for it to survive is that the pH is less than 6.8.
8. Hydrangeas
This variation of the family Hydrangeaceae It sports quite decorative foliage, thanks to its deep green, oval-shaped leaves with jagged edges. Its flowers are purple, blue and white.
Hydrangeas reproduce by cuttings. They are popular in the field of ornamentation, resistant to cold and need moderate watering.
The University of Georgia points out that, in clayey soils, these plants grow adequately, boosting the soil with homemade compost, mushroom compost and ground pine bark chips. On the contrary, they advise against the supply of peat, due to the accelerated decomposition.
How to improve the quality of clayey soils to grow decorative plants?
In order for ornamental plants to do better in clayey soils, it is convenient to have an artificial drainage and provide them with lime to dissolve the lumps. This is known as soil amendment and consists of working the plot until making its light texture.
In general, if you sow ornamental species in this type of land, it would be appropriate to ask nurseries for specific specimens for clayey areas. Get advice on the ideal fertilizer and find out if it is a vegetable that demands other specific attention.
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