I dont think I can plant this time of year, can I?
It’s “bare root” season. You can get roses and trees for example, maybe a bit cheaper - as plants that are delivered with no soil, their roots are bare. Which is fine this time of year. Prep the soil and put it in the ground.
I would echo what the others have said, adding organic material is good, simple and nothing to worry about.
I wouldn't plant anything just now. It's more than likely to fail unless you get the soil improved. If you can do that over winter, spring should be fine to put plants in. Wait and see if the bed drains better during that time, and then it's important to use appropriate plants and ones that are a good size - not tiny ones in 3 inch pots.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
What is it like in the summer? If it's still wet, you could treat it as a bog bed and grow boggy plants which are lovely. If it dries out completely and cracks then that's not going to work, however.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
I would not worry about the subsoil being clay; it is how it is. Clay is wet in winter. As long as you've got 8-10" of decent soil, even though it's wet, improved with organic matter, I would choose plants that like clay. There are many including roses. I have very heavy clay in my garden and there are many things you can grow.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
I just have to disagree! You need to check how long you have standing water and very wet soil. Only plants adapted to standing overwinter in waterlogged soil will survive. If the water drains in say, 12 -24 hours, you may well be OK but if there is water there for days or weeks, your 'normal' plants will die. Clay soil can be excellent but waterlogged clay is a killer.
Clay is a rich soil so you only need add any kind of organic matter to improve it and this will over time improve drainage. I use the cheap bags of soil improver and lay it on a couple of inches thick. You might just need to change plants used over time as it improves but lots of plants will grow in your sort of soil if improved only slightly I agree though if it's wet for ages you may have to be more imaginative. My garden is mostly clay soil but slopes so has good drainage. It's also north facing but longish so does get sun. Rules can always be bent. Here's a pic. Most of these do well in my heavy soil. These beds are two years old. Hope this gives you a bit of encouragement 🙂👍
It's the method we've been recommending @shane.farrell - because it's what works best However, it's important to check what's underlying. I also garden on wet, sticky clay, and have done for decades - in several gardens, but if you have a solid clay pan further down, that makes a difference, and it's why waiting until spring to see if there's an improvement is sensible. There could be a broken drain or some other problem creating excess wet too. It's also why it could be easier making a raised bed by adding small posts at regular intervals, and a foot of timber attached to those, or using sleepers etc Hundreds of plants will be suitable, but we don't know the aspect etc of the bed, or where the OP lives. Clay can be a problem in warmer areas because it dries out in summer. In colder, wetter areas, it doesn't, so plant choices are also dependent on that. Improving the soil structure makes that easier too.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes, like @Fairygirl I have gardened on heavy clay for over 30 years. In late Autumn much of my garden becomes waterlogged with long spells of standing water in some areas. The water table is high and water also runs down from surrounding land. It has taught me a great deal about planting. It is also the case that 'clay' can mean many things, from the soil is a bit sticky, to a solid lifeless material that little can survive. You need to know your clay before you plant.
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I would echo what the others have said, adding organic material is good, simple and nothing to worry about.
If you can do that over winter, spring should be fine to put plants in. Wait and see if the bed drains better during that time, and then it's important to use appropriate plants and ones that are a good size - not tiny ones in 3 inch pots.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
My garden is mostly clay soil but slopes so has good drainage. It's also north facing but longish so does get sun. Rules can always be bent. Here's a pic. Most of these do well in my heavy soil. These beds are two years old. Hope this gives you a bit of encouragement 🙂👍
However, it's important to check what's underlying. I also garden on wet, sticky clay, and have done for decades - in several gardens, but if you have a solid clay pan further down, that makes a difference, and it's why waiting until spring to see if there's an improvement is sensible. There could be a broken drain or some other problem creating excess wet too.
It's also why it could be easier making a raised bed by adding small posts at regular intervals, and a foot of timber attached to those, or using sleepers etc
Hundreds of plants will be suitable, but we don't know the aspect etc of the bed, or where the OP lives. Clay can be a problem in warmer areas because it dries out in summer. In colder, wetter areas, it doesn't, so plant choices are also dependent on that.
Improving the soil structure makes that easier too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It is also the case that 'clay' can mean many things, from the soil is a bit sticky, to a solid lifeless material that little can survive. You need to know your clay before you plant.