I tried something last year that may work for you with minimal effort. I
ended up making a planting bed three feet wide by 15 feet long and I wish I
had made it a little wider.

It is a raised bed method where you take a layer of large material ie.
sticks, twigs and such then cover with smaller material ie. chipped brush,
wood chips, then smaller stuff like composted wood chips, grass clippings
and then top off with a layer of soil. The bed should be about two feet
high at this point or higher. Keeping the bed wet will speed the process
but I live in an arid climate and was not willing to water an unplanted area
so I just let it sit for about six months over our wet winter period.
(note-I live in an area with mild winters and the ground does not freeze so
the bed was able to compost without much trouble)

This was an area of clay that was compacted by a dozer during some grading I
had done last year. It was solid as concrete and amending the soil would
have taken a herculean effort especially with our lack of rainfall last
year. When I went to plant some daylilies a few weeks ago, the bed had
turned into the most beautiful dark, rich soil. It was like magic. No
effort other than piling up the material and waiting for the rains, fungus
and worms to do their thing. It kind of made me feel like an idoit for all
the work I did the previous spring to start my vegetable garden in this same
area.

I read about this method in a book I highly recommend "Great Garden
Companions," by Sally Jean Cunningham. It is a german method of raised bed
planting called the Hugel method. For those of you with back problems or
other disabilities, this method can return the fun to gardening.

So now you don't have to limit yourself to clay loving plants or "dry-feet"
plants although I highly recommend xeriscaping anyway. I am planting all
drought tolerant plants and I am finding very few limitations. You can have
anything from an english country garden to a mediterranean masterpiece using
the right xeriscape material. It just takes a little more searching to find
the perfect plant for the perfect situation. Check out
highcountrygardens.com for some more advice and plant material for
xeriscaping. Good luck! Rick.


From: "pelirojaroja"
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 20:14:47 -0500
Subject: A conundrum

Hi,

I have clay-soil that gets baked on the South side of the house. I know
soil amendment and watering are in my future, but does anyone have any
advice for plants (perennials, shrubs, annuals) that like to have clay soil
but NOT be very moist?

Most clay-loving plants I've looked up like to be wet (usually clay soil
holds water well -sometimes too well). But, the "dry-feet" plants seem to
want sandy, well-drained soil.

Sigh. What do I do? Plant clay-loving plants and water like mad? Or plant
dry-feet plants and amend the soil like a maniac with sand and compost? Any
other options?
(Yes, I know -- native wildflowers and the "prairie" theme. I'll do it to
some extent, but I wanted a bit more cultivated look, since this is a small
place.) I live in Cleveland, OH -- zone 5.

WWYD? What would you do? :-)

Thanks,

-- pelirojaroja
"dangerous redhead"