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new garden clay soil
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Posted by carolinel sunshine coast (My Page) on Sun, Feb 22, 09 at 18:24
| hi i am designing a new garden just built new home the block previously had some garden on it. the soil is mainly clay.we have a render /timber fence at the top of the block and we have drainage running down from coucil strip behind we wish to plant a hedge along wall facingeast and were thinking of aussie boomers but dont know if they will grow in clay have put gypsum on top already also wish to plant on opposite side of fence facing west behind house about 6 meters back from house on slope, would like suggestions on what to plant we have existing palms growing on block on south side any advice would be appreciated |
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RE: new garden clay soil
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| Seems to be plenty of Lily Pilys growing around the northern suburbs of melbourne which is heavy black clay. I would say that they will do fine in your clay. The only thing to watch is that water infiltration in to clay is very slow in you can be watering your plants happily while very little water is actually penetrating to the roots zone of your new plants. Perhaps you should cultivate the soil, add some gypsum and compost just to improve the permeability of the soil while your Lily Pilys get established. |
RE: new garden clay soil
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Like Greg, I would expect your aussie boomers to be very happy with the soil you've got. I'd be surprised if it's really worth spending money on gypsum. After all, lots of Australian plants grow on all sorts of Australian soils without needing this kind of alteration done to them.
Greg is right that water infiltration can be a problem in clay soils, but with the amount of rain you've had lately I wouldn't expect your plants' roots to be at all short of water. Compost is good advice, and lillypillies do like a good topping of mulch - not touching the trunks, though.
Cheers, Trish |
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