Options for Dealing with Clay Soil The first option is to decide whether to work with it as it is or try to change it. The easiest and best course of action is to select plants that are suited to such a site. There are quite a few attractive landscape plants that do well in clay soil.

The following list includes some of the best trees and shrubs for clay soil, but it is important that their other needs be met too (sun/shade, acid/alkaline, well drained/ moist).

Trees Best Suited To Clay Soil - Apples and Crabapples, Aspen and Cottonwood, White, Black, Green Ash, Ohio Buckeye and Horse chestnut, Bur Oak and Eastern Pin Oak, Norway and Silver Maple, River Birch, Elms, Hawthorn, Swamp White Oak, Common Honey locust, Kentucky Coffee tree, European Larch and Tamarack, Lindens, Willow

Other Trees That Tolerate Clay - Balsam and White (Concolor) Fir, Austrian, White and Scotch Pines, Freemani, Red and Amur Maples, Japanese Tree Lilac, Norway and Black Hills Spruce, GingkoBlack Walnut

Shrubs Best Suited to Clay Soil - Alpine Currant, Arborvitae, Chokeberry, Redtwig Dogwood, Forsythia, Honeysuckle, Lilac, Ninebark, Potentilla, Russian Olive, Siberian Peashrub, Snowberry, Arrowwood and Nannyberry Viburnum, European and Highbush Cranberry Viburnum, Willow.

Other Shrubs That Tolerate Clay - Barberry, Diervilla, Pagoda, Dogwood, Winged Euonymus, Junipers, Serviceberry, Sumac Winterberry

Planting and Care Tips for Clay Soil - A lot of research has been done on the best methods for planting in clay soils. Before you dig a hole, examine the plant. Carefully remove enough soil from the top of the roots to find the root flare on the trunk of the plant. This is the spot where roots start growing out away from the trunk. Sometimes it will be an inch or two (or even more) below the surface of the soil in a container or ball. It is very important that the root flare be located. It should be at or just above the surrounding soil level when planted. (Large B&B plants should be planted 2-3 inches above the adjacent soil level, smaller container plants should be planted 1-2 inches above the adjacent soil level.) Measure from the root flare to the bottom of the root mass and dig the hole just that deep. Do not disturb the soil any deeper or the plant may settle lower after it is planted. The hole should be at least twice as wide as the root ball and the hole should be shaped like a large bowl, gradually getting shallow towards the edges. Avoid straight sides on the hole and be sure to rough up the surfaces. Another important recommendation is to avoid drastic changes in soil type. It is best to fill back this hole with the same soil you removed Soil amendments can be mixed into the top 6 inches surrounding the planting hole. Continued….