Heavy clay still waterlogged

Pyra · September 2020

I have extremely heavy clay soil that gets waterlogged every time it rains. At the start of the summer I dug over an area I wanted as a flowerbed, then mixed in sharp sand, compost and manure. I left it for a few weeks but, while it's better, it's still waterlogged after the rain. Today I double dug out part of it and it's compacted, heavy, thick clay as far down as I can go.

What are my options for improving this? I don't want to plant anything as I'm worried it will drown. Advice from family has been either build raised beds or get a landscaper to do it. I can't afford a landscaper and I really don't want raised beds (just a personal choice).

Could I leave it over winter, to let the frost break it up? Then plant something that's OK with a bit of waterlogging, like a crab apple?

Thanks in advance for any help. I see why all my neighbours just have lawns and pots.

Borderline · September 2020

Planting trees and shrubs will help to dry up clay soils. You will need to also add in plenty of organic matter to help open up the soil structure in the early stage to help plants settle. Start with plants that can grow well in heavy damp soils. Hornbeam and many Viburnums, Dogwoods and Weigelas. Whist they mature, you can then concentrate on conditioning the soil to grow a more wider range of plants.

Heavy clay still waterlogged

Posts