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| Hi!
I LOVE ornamental grasses but I'm cursed with heavy clay soil with the added bonus of poor drainage. I'm on several acres and have dreams of mass plantings of the graceful beauties. Has anyone had personal success growing on nasty clay? Raised beds and french drains are not an option at this time. I hope someone can give me a little hope. I would sure appreciate any input you may have. Thanks,
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| I don't have clay soil, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night. Most of the big beautiful graceful, warm-season deciduous grasses you covet don't care much about the quality of the soil, but they do care about drainage. You'll either have to pre-prepare large planting areas/beds, or use pocket planting techniques. Both methods are the same, and differ only in scale. Dig out a hole, at least twice as wide and deep as the rootball of the plant you are installing. Mix the clay in thirds, with coarse sand and organic material. Fill the bottom with the mix, and install the plant, backfilling with the mix. |
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- Posted by gardengal48 PNW zone 8 (My Page) on Thu, Mar 23, 06 at 9:17
| There is actually a good deal of difference between widespread amending of clay soil and preparing individual planting holes. Regardless of the size of the planting hole, if working with heavy clay soil, amending and loosening the soil within the planting hole simply creates an area of loose, perhaps well-draining soil within the confines of the poorly draining clay soil. In effect you have created a bucket or bathtub that will hold the water and not provide drainage. If amending and loosening the soil over a widespread area is not possible or convenient, create a very shallow, wide hole in the clay - very dish-shaped - plant high and mound better soil upto the root crown. This will still allow adequate drainage and give the plant roots sufficient anchor. Plant roots are very tenacious and they will penetrate into the clay. Actually, the work of plant roots breaking up clay soil is a rather efficient way of loosening heavy soils but it is a slow process. |
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- Posted by deep_roots 5a (My Page) on Thu, Mar 23, 06 at 22:30
| I live near a wetlands with clay soil and have been using specially prepared planting holes. Since everything drains toward the wetlands, I have no standing water over my ornamental grass beds during heavy rains. All of my ornamental grasses are thriving. I typically dig a hole 18" to 30" in diameter and 14" to 24" deep. I mix peat moss and composted manure with the native soil to make a loose organically nuturing planting hole. Regarding fertilizer, I like to add a little triple phosphate and slow release 12-12-12 capsules to the bottom and outer walls of the planting hole to encourage the roots to stretch deep and outward. The ornamental grasses send roots throughout these planting holes much faster than through the native soil, although the roots will spread through the surrounding clay soil in time. Clay has slow drainage, but holds nutrients well. I can go farther between occasional waterings. I can not use raised mounds without creating a lump of dirt that drys up without consistent watering and kills surface layer roots. I would suggest preparing the proverbial $10 hole for a $1 pot of ornamental grass this summer and see for yourself that ornamental grasses are far easier to grow than one might suppose. Be sure to pick a spot with lots of sunlight! Also remember if getting small pots of ornamental grass that the perennial saying applies in regards to each of three years growth in "One to sleep, One to creep, and One to leap!" This basically means that you will enjoy your grasses with the plants gaining maturity each year. Some grasses will grow slower or faster. With the amount of ground you seem to have, you should have plenty of room to play! |
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