Problems to solve

Clay Soil

Having lived in Clay Town (Clayton Staffs) for many years we understand both how difficult clay can be but also how fertile it is. Cold and wet in the winter it seems to go straight to hard and dry in summer. Large quantities of organic matter is the secret. Rotted farmyard manure, composted bark chips or even partly rotted compost heaps are ideal but try and dig widely rather than just downwards.

If you are planting a tree then whatever you do avoid a hole which will act like a sump drain and kill off the roots.

A few months later

Oak boards curving around pergola hoops. Willow weaving in background

Better is to cutivate over 3-4 square feet and then plant the tree on a mound.

On a slope the problem is worse as water will flow down beneath whatever topsoil you have and on top of the clay layer till it meets a dip. If you dig a wide canal out of your planting hole going downhill this should be better.

Raised borders are another good way around the problem. At Wythenshawe hospital's sensory garden we used 30cm (12") wide planks of freshly sawn English Oak to lift the soil level up and incorporated15 tonnes of gritty sand as well as we were planting rows of lavenders. The other important aspect is to use plants which enjoy heavier soils. At the extreme end this might mean digging out a pond or frank bog garden but the list below may be helpful: