Bryan, we have such a problem corner in our yard, too. We built a couple of small raised beds to fill the center of it, where a large, brittle tree had been. In the raised beds, I have blueberry bushes, a couple of currant bushes, some feverfew, parsley, poppies and wild bergamot. A lot of things don't do well in the remainder of that area, but I do have success with certain mints, and oregano does especially well there. I have not tried to grow grasses there (but I can tell you Bermuda will grow there... is there ANYPLACE Bermuda will NOT grow??

There are several people who will respond that are much more knowledgeable than I so keep watching your thread for them. I'm sure you'll get an answer that will work for you.

Bryan,

Last year I compiled several lists for Emily, who was looking for plants that would grow in clay soil. I'm going to link one of them for you below.

If you want to see other lists of plants for clay, I think I posted separate ones for trees, shrubs, flowers, etc. and you can find them by doing a search. All of them had a title like "A Tree List for Emily", "A Shrub List for Emily", etc.

I'll also try to write a better direct answer later. I'm trying to head out the door to do some errands and I think DH is about ready to leave.

Dawn

Here is a link that might be useful: Previous Post: Ground Covers for Clay Soil

Hi Ilene,

Thanks for the suggestions. I would LOVE to put some blueberry bushes there! In fact, that was one of my original thoughts because I love me some blueberries but I didn't think they could handle the occassional flooding. Not that flooding is much a problem this year... yet, at least. :)

Dawn - Coming to my rescue again?!? Hehe. I'll look for those lists and see if anything catches my eye.

Thank you both!
B

You can always put in a french drain if you want it to stay dry during the wet seasons here. We all pretty much have problems like that. Wet areas where water stands during the rainy seasons, and bone dry with cracks in the drought! LOL!

Susan

Hi Susan,

I never realized why my parents always complained about red clay when I was growing up. It's so squishy and fun to play in as a kid. Well in the last couple of years I've figured it all out! LOL

I've thought about doing some sort of drainage but wasn't sure what and I think it might be too cost inhibitive or labor intensive for me to add french drains. Maybe not? I'm not lazy (most of the time :) but it just seems like more than I should try to bite off by myself. This is the lowest spot in my whole yard and it's in the far back corner. The only place lower is by the street in the front yard. I can't imagine digging a trench all that way. Halfway through I'd probably be digging three or four feet down because of having to go up the "hill" towards the front yard where it could drain out. And after having my main sewer line replaced last year I know how expensive it is just to pay someone to dig up my back yard for me! LOL

Maybe I'm not thinking of french drains correctly though. A french drain still has to drain to somewhere, right?

Thanks!
Bryan

Hi Dawn,

I believe I've found all those lists you created. Those are fantastic lists! I've got some googling to do! :)

I'll let you know how it all turns out.

Thanks bunches!
B

B.,

You are welcome and I hope the lists are helpful.

I have gardened in heavy clay soil all my life. In Texas I had heavy black clay that we called "gumbo clay". Here in southern OK, it is heavy red clay that is actually more fertile than the black clay was, but it is still a challenge. How red and thick is my clay? Well, in the summer when it is dry, it is like concrete and you cannot penetrate it more than 1/2" with ANY gardening implement, no matter how strong you are. Even a heavy-duty, rear-tine tiller is no match for it during the dry months. And my soil is as red as the Red River which does, in fact, surround us on three sides.

If we'd been smarter, we would have bought land with sandier soil. Well, I say that, but the truth is that sandy soil may be easier to work, but it doesn't hold water well and often is full of root-knot nematodes, for which there is no easy solution. So, maybe my red clay isn't so bad after all.

In Texas, my brother gardens on awful caliche and whitish-yellowish clay soil that has more rocks than soil. So, whenever the red clay is making me crazy, I think about his soil conditions and get in a better mood quite quickly. : )

Dawn