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Spring bulbs for a lawn on clay soil in light shade?????

AcuwellAcuwell Posts: 87
in Problem solving
Hello
Does such a thing exist as a bulb for naturalising in a lawn on clay soil which has light shade?  All my "filters" on bulb websites seem to filter everything out down to nothing but if anyone has any thoughts I'd be very pleased to hear them.  The area in question is a sloping lawn.  Many thanks in advance.
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Posts

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    edited September 2022
    Camasia might fit the bill. They come in a few shades of blue and white. We grow irises on clay under trees, the yellow and white,we inherited them so I don't know the variety. I know they aren't strictly bulbs.
  • AcuwellAcuwell Posts: 87
    Thanks I'll google them and see what it says!  Any other suggestions anyone please?  Most of the suppliers say "no" to clay!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Snowdrops will be fine. Crocus too. They'll both be fine in clay, although I'm assuming if the grass drains well enough. Crocus are slightly less keen on being waterlogged.
    Camassias are huge. Not really right in a lawn I'd say.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I've never had trouble growing any of the usual suspects on heavy clay.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - and most daffs are fine. Many of them will grow in wet clay soil no problem. 
    We used to have them in the wet edges of a lawn - wet because it was the run off from the pond, which was fed from the spring higher up. It was always wet.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • AcuwellAcuwell Posts: 87
    Blimey the bulb suppliers say Narcissi won't survive the Winter in clay!  It's so hard to know what is right and don't want to waste a whole lot of money and nothing come up in Spring.  I've checked Cammasias and they love clay but yes, maybe not quite the look I was after though probably lovely in a different way.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    The wild daffodil might suit for naturalising: Narcissus lobularis | Avon Bulbs
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Narcissus W P Milner would be fine for naturalising too.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • HeartinthedirtHeartinthedirt Posts: 300
    edited September 2022
    If you can be patient why not experiment for a year? But some inexpensive bulbs from b and q, or somewhere like that and dot them around to see what works where. Then do your serious planting next year? Maybe have a few lovelies in pots where you can control the conditions and know you'll have some colour next spring.
    Edit: as a person with a clay garden, I totally understand your caution and frustration!
    It's knowing what to do with things that counts - Robert Frost
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited September 2022
    I have in the past grown everything I wanted naturalisd in clay.   I suggest just planting them a little less deep than recommended.  I have seen wild daffodils, bluebells and anemones happy in clay.  Unfortunately I am now on dry and very shady sand.  Impossible to improve; I envy clay gardeners, harder work but worth it.

    I agree with Heart...'s suggestion to experiment.  But one year is not enough to test naturalising success.

    Perhaps grow the grass a bit longer through the winter in order to protect from frost and speed-up soil mpisture loss.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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