What Grows Well In Clay Soil (& Heavy Soils)

Different soils have different properties and traits that may impact what can grow in them, and also how things grow in them.

In this short guide, we outline what might grow well in clay soils and heavier types of soil, along with other relevant considerations.

 

Summary – What Grows Well In Clay Soil

Clay rich soil has it’s own unique traits/properties that makes it different from other types of soils 

These traits/properties impact how suitable or unsuitable it is to grow different plants, fruits, vegetables, crops etc. in soils with a high clay content

Some soils may be a clay mix, which means that it may be predominantly clay, but also include a certain % of another type of soil as well (such as a sand for example)

This may change the suitability of the soil to grow different things in it, as it isn’t a full clay soil

There’s different things that can be done to a clay soil in order to amend it or improve it’s fertility, for the purposes of growing and soil productivity/soil yield

However, some clay soils may be so clay rich, and have such extreme soil conditions, that adding to them or trying to amend them to improve growing conditions can be futile

The soil type is only one factor in determining what you can and can’t grow in that soil (or, how effectively something might grow in a specific soil type)

Other factors to consider for growing in different soils include the general soil fertility, and the local conditions and variables such as weather and climate, as just a few major examples

Overall, each square area of soil on an individual plot of land potentially has it’s own unique factors and variables to consider that will impact soil production. And, the same can be said for the soil in the different geographic locations around the world

All clay soils may have general soil production principles that apply to them, but, may also have unique local variables impacting soil production as well

Read more in this guide about the main considerations for growing different types of plants in different types of soils, conditions, and geographic locations

 

Profile Of Clay Soil – Traits, Characteristics, & Features

Pure clay soil, or soil with higher amounts of accumulated clay, may have these general features, traits, and characteristics:

– Have the smallest soil particles when compared to silt, and sand

– Hold/retain a lot of moisture and water and have poor drainage (because of how tightly compacted the small clay particles are)

– Expand and contract depending on how much water it gets, and how wet or dry conditions are

– Be poorly aerated 

– Be sticky and clumped together when wet – making it hard for root vegetables to establish roots in the clay, and making it hard for gardeners to work with it

– Crack and go solid when they dry out – which can dislodge certain root systems

– Can sometimes have water pool on top of it

– Hold onto nutrients, but can be hard to access for plants and other things growing in clay.

 

Real Examples Of Clay Soil, & Where It Might Be Found

In terms of the different soil orders, an example of a clay rich soil might be a Vertisol soil.

Although highly fertile, Vertisols show many of the features listed above, and this can make them challenging to work with for some soil uses.

You can see where Vertisols and other soil orders might be found worldwide, and in specific countries, in this guide.

This resource also shows the composition of soils across the United States, in terms of the concentration of clay, sand and silt in different regions and States.

 

Working With, Improving & Amending Clay Soil

Adding To Clay Soils

Compost, leaf mould, coarse grit and well-rotted bark chips can work well when added in moderate amounts to clay soil.

Liming agents like calcium can also work well in moderate amounts with clay.

 

Working With Difficult Or Extreme Clay Soils

However, as mentioned by Empressofdirt.net, sometimes the clay soil in your area might be too extreme for modifications and amending, and raised garden beds with imported soil might work better for growing.

 

More Resources On Working With Clay Soils

Read these sources for more info on amending, improving and working with clay soil:

10 Best Vegetables For Clay Soil (empressofdirt.net)

Growing Vegetables In Clay Soil (growveg.com.au)

Growing Fruits Trees In Clay Soils (kings.co.nz)

The Best Plants For Clay Soil (daviddomoney.com)

Small Trees & Shrubs For Heavy & Clay Soils (gardenersworld.com)

Types Of Soil (provident-living-today.com)

Soil Type Test (burkesbackyard.com.au)

 

A Note On Soil Types, & What Ultimately Impacts How Things Grow

Before we look at what grows well in clay soil, it’s important to note that all soils have a slightly different composition in each geographic location – you might get a pure clay soil in one location, but in another location you might get a clay soil mixed with another type of soil, and this can change it’s characteristics

There are also different external factors acting upon the soil in each geographic area. Climate and weather are a major example of this

Additionally, there are ultimately a range of physical, chemical and biological factors that determine how well something grows in a particular spot or under particular conditions.

Soil fertility is a major factor tied to soil’s physical, chemical and biological traits, that can impact soil productivity and yield. Some soils have high natural fertility, but it’s also possible to modify or increase the fertility of some soils

This is just a guide on clay soils in general, without going into extreme depth about all these other factors (factors like soil fertility, soil health, soil quality, the impact of adding fertilizers and pesticides, bringing in commercial topsoil, the impact of different tilling practices, and so on).

To assess the soil in an individual location, it can help to become aware of factors like:

– What the soil is, and what is the best way to manage it

– The climate in that location (temperature, rainfall etc.) and the growing seasons (for example – the US has different planting zones),

– The plants or things you want to grow and the conditions they need 

This is of course just basic information – it’s important to research beyond these things for each individual situation.

 

These guides provide some basic information on figuring out what might grow well in different soils, conditions and locations:

All The Factors That Affect The Growth Of Plants

How To Know What Grows In Your Soil Or Garden

How To Know What Grows In Your Geographic Area Or Climate Zone

I Can’t Grow Anything In My Soil – What Do I Do?

 

Below is a collection of generalized lists of things that may grow well in clay soil.

It’s important that you don’t rely solely on these lists though – obviously you should do your own additional research, and make your own independent decisions.

 

Plants & Flowers That Grow Well In Clay Soil

Iris

Miscanthus

Heuchera 

Baptisia

Platycodon

Hosta

Aster

Rudbeckia

Perovskia 

Echinacea

Coreopsis

Achillea

Athyrium

– hgtv.com

 

Aster

Goldenrod

Black Eyed Susan

Russian Sage

Daylily

Yarrow

Little Bluestem

Fountaingrass

Switchgrass

Ironweed

Canna

Bluestar

Baptisia

Coreopsis

Purple Coneflower

Sea Holly

Perennial Geranium 

False Sunflower

Heuchera

Hosta

Blazing Star

Bee Balm

Sedum

Yucca

Miscanthus

– bhg.com

 

Flowers:

Roses

Daylily

Foxglove

Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii

Elder

Hydrangea macrophylla

Lychnis coronaria

Thalictrum

Persicaria 

Chinese lantern

– gardenersworld.com

 

Flowering perennials and bulbs:

Hostas

Lingularia

Euonymous

Vinca

Alchemilla mollis 

Asters

Rudbeckia

Coreopsis

Phlox

Aconites

Hellebores

Japanese anemone

Geraniums

Primulas

Cranesbill

Pulmonaria

Astilbe

Astrantia

Kniphofia

Solidago

Ivy

Clematis

Honeysuckle

Narcissi

Snowdrops

– daviddomoney.com

 

Fruits & Fruit Trees That Grow Well In Clay Soil

Citrus trees

Fig

Stone fruits

– gardenguides.com

 

Vegetables & Crops That Grow Well In Clay Soil

Lettuce, chard, green beans beans and other crops with shallow roots

Broccoli, Brussel sprouts and cabbage often grow better in clay soil than looser loams

Mid and late season sweetcorn are a good choice, too, but some of the best vegetables to grow in clay are squash and pumpkins.

As long as they are grown in planting holes that have been generously enriched with compost, summer squash and small pumpkins seem to do well no matter where they are grown

Rice can also work well in clay

– growveg.com.au

 

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts

Cabbage (red and green)

Cabbage (Napa and savoy)

Cauliflower

Kale

Bean

Pea

Potato

Daikon radish

– empressofdirt.net

 

Bean varieties

Carrots and beets

Swiss chard

Rice varieties

– hunker.com

 

Vegetables:

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Squashes

Pumpkins

Onions

Leaks 

– daviddomoney.com

 

Trees, Shrubs and Bushes That Grow Well In Clay Soil

Trees and shrubs:

Snowy mespilus

Birch

Crab apple

Roses

Hawthorn

Holly 

Strawberry tree

Cotoneaster ‘Hybridus Pendulus’

– gardenersworld.com

 

Trees:

Birch

Eucalyptus

Sorbus

Hawthorn

Magnolia

Amelanchier

Pine

Thuja

Juniper

Chamaecyparis

– daviddomoney.com

 

Shrubs:

Cornus

Viburnum

Mahonia

Berberis

Pyracantha

Cotoneaster

Weigela

Buddleja

Forsythia

Hydrangea

Chaenomeles (flowering quince)

– daviddomoney.com

 

Plants For Wet Clay Soil

Iris

Hostas

Hydrangea

Cornus

Weigela

Astilbe

– daviddomoney.com

 

Sources

1. https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/14-plants-that-thrive-in-clay-soil-pictures

2. https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/best-plants-to-grow-in-clay/?slide=slide_526290#slide_526290

3. https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/small-trees-for-heavy-and-clay-soils/

4. https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/10-flowering-plants-for-clay-soil/

5. https://www.daviddomoney.com/best-plants-clay-soil-grow-full-sun-partial-shade/

6. https://www.gardenguides.com/list_5942074_fruit-trees-grow-clay-soil.html

7. https://www.daleysfruit.com.au/forum/which-fruit-trees-can-be-grown-in/

8. https://www.kings.co.nz/gardening-news/growing-fruit-trees-in-clay-soils

9. https://www.growveg.com.au/guides/growing-vegetables-in-clay-soil/

10. https://empressofdirt.net/best-vegetables-clay-soils/

11. https://www.hunker.com/13406959/crops-that-grow-well-in-clay-soil 

12. http://www.provident-living-today.com/Types-of-Soil.html 

13. https://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/fact-sheets/in-the-garden/gardening-tips-books-techniques-and-tools/soil-type-test/

14. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/87220/soil-composition-across-the-us

15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay

','

' ); } ?>