Problem is, the trench will still act like a sump and tend to collect and hold water, if it can't drain out through the bottom & sides fast enough. Even things that tolerate clay probably won't like that very much.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
@Lantana, yes there are lots of olives planted on clay, but either on sloping land that drains itself or planted on humps - like large molehills, that allow the land to flood whilst trees rise above it.
I am surrounded by holm oak forest, have a fair amount myself and it’s very heavy clay here, but again, the land is steeply sloping and thus self-draining...
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Seems to me if the trench fills with water when it rains, what you need are willows tho they don't lend themselves to pleaching which leaves hornbeams as the best tree for this situation, as Dove has already said.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I agree that wet clay in England is not suitable for olives. As your client is keen on olives, I suggest a pot grown specimen in a south facing location.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
Hi again .Just heard that the client has ordered some established Portuguese laurel trees for this .main problem at the moment is still the drainage issue that needs sorting before backfilling the trench with topsoil .currently the trench has gathered lots of rain water I've already forked in some small holes but didn't help much .I am thinking off putting it about 8 big holes going straight into the clay about 1metre x 10cm filled with shingle and sand im not sure though this will be enough.ive considered doing a conventional soakaway/ French drain but space very limited .any thoughts always appreciated
Unless the whole area is worked over and drainage improved the holes will simply fill with water like a sump and the tree roots will drown - probably not a bad thing since Portuguese laurel is so desperately dull and dark all year.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Hi again .been back on the job this week And things didn't go exactly to plan sorting the drainage issue and it's been a bit of a learning curve this particular job but I'm keen to get things right .conclusion now is that I now have to make the trench much deeper and fill the bottom with hardcore etc as the water just keeps collecting into this mud pit and drainage options limited (can't do big soakaway or send it into drains ). the end that's more wet we've decided to go for river birch that should help a bit hopefully ,anyway next week when the skip arrives I will make the trench about another 2 ft deeper so it will be about 5 ft deep ready to backfill .delivery arrived today with 1 ton 5mm gravel .1 ton loam topsoil and 1 ton extra sandy loam .Have I got the right idea in forking the area adding fine grit and farm manure then adding 1ft big drainage stone then extra sandy loam mixed with bit of compost and then the loam tree mix topsoil with added 5mm gravel
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I am surrounded by holm oak forest, have a fair amount myself and it’s very heavy clay here, but again, the land is steeply sloping and thus self-draining...