clay soil

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Clay soils bring many gardeners out in a cold sweat. They have a reputation as back-breaking and impossible to work with. But the truth is that clay soils can be truly brilliant in a garden.

They are rich in nutrients and retain plenty of moisture, two important things that plants need to grow well. In fact, many plants thrive in these conditions.

Here’s my guide to handling clay soils, including how to improve them and a list of the best plants for clay soils, in both full sun and partial shade.

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What are clay soils?

First, it helps to understand what we mean by clay soil. This type of soil has a structure made of very fine particles which sit closely together, meaning that air and water cannot easily move through the soil. This is what makes it ‘heavy’ and it can lead to poor drainage. The biggest problem with clay soil is that it gets waterlogged. This can slow the growth of plants and even cause the roots to rot.

Clay soil is also heavy to dig and slow to warm up in spring. But these issues are outweighed by the potential clay soil has to be the foundation for a wide range of plants.

How to improve your clay soil?

If you aren’t sure what type of soil you have, use the simple test in my Expert Gardening Guide to Soil. Almost all clay soils can be improved over time.

But the most important problem to tackle is bad drainage, especially when it is causing standing water.

Dig the soil over very deeply, incorporating lots of bulky organic matter as you go.

Compost, leaf mould, coarse grit and well-rotted bark chips are good options.

Be wary of putting in too much bark or wood chippings – the bacteria needed to breakdown this amount of wood will deplete the soil of nitrogen.

Many sources recommend digging in sharp sand but this is not effective. You would need a huge volume of sand and even then the results are very variable. Organic matter is the far better option. You should also dig in organic matter if you are starting a new bed or tackling a new plot. It is hard work but it will make a dramatic difference to the quality of your soil. You can improve clay soil in sections too – no need to turn over the entire plot at once.

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Lime for clay soils

Some clay soils respond well to the addition of a liming agent like calcium. This can cause the clay particles to form clumps, improving the structure and drainage.This tends to work best on acidic soils.

If you don’t know your soil pH, test with a cheap kit from a garden centre.

Add lime to acidic soils as per the packet instructions. For other soils you can also try adding gypsum. This may help the clay structure without affecting the acidity. Test both of these methods on a small area first to make sure it works on your type of clay soil.

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Improving established beds

If your garden is already established and you can’t dig it over, you can still take steps to improve clay soil.

Add thick layers of mulch like compost and leaf mould over the soil surface during the summer.

This will help retain moisture and prevent drying and cracking, as well as adding more nutrients and improving the soil structure.

You don’t need to dig mulch in – the insects, worms and microorganisms will take this material down into the soil for you.

It might take a few seasons but be consistent with it for the best results. Make sure to keep mulch clear of plant stems to avoid rotting – here’s my top mulching tips. Plus you should also consider adopting a no-dig system once you have tried to improve the soil. Turning it over deeply every year may disturb the hard work of soil creatures and microorganisms.

Golden rules for clay soil

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Keep off clay soil when it’s wet. Walking all over it will cause compaction and make it heavier.