The lot for my house was bulldozed when built so I have no topsoil thus I have to completely replace existing clay soil and even add drain pipe where practical. I'm now planning to plant Camellias in a 30' border next to a cement patio so I need to do this again.

I usually try to go 3' deep if possible but as you can imagine this is an immense amount of hand labor. I will place a perforated drain pipe at the bottom and connect it to the existing system which is probably about 2.5' - 3' below grade.

I'm guessing a depth of 2-2.5' of well drained soil is sufficient for Camellias?

I found out the hard way that just digging holes and replacing the soil generally does not work since I'm just creating an in-ground pot. When I started using raised beds and/or drain pipe gardening became nearly effortless.

Thanks

You may want to have some pH tests done once you bring in the top soil. Also, cement can leach lime into a surrounding soil system, and may raise the pH over time.

We had to do the same thing in our front yard, as you are doing. Drain pipe was essential to our project, so we rented a trencher for the morning. What a back-saver!

Good luck, alexh!

Peat dug into a clay soil in Oklahoma had vanished a year later.