On 02/22/2012 08:35 PM, RobertM wrote:
Thank you for your help guys, i read that it would be best to dig over
the garden and mix in mulch . . . . is that the correct thing to do ?

Also , would a Japanese Maple grow well in clay ?



It's possible but not easy. The problem is getting the maple
established. You need to plant in a raised mound of well mixed local
soil and free draining compost; raised to prevent the maple from
drowning in the clay bowl. (You can try doing this with all clay but
there is only a small chance it will live). You need to water for
several years as it's almost like a container. You may need to help the
maple roots penetrate the surrounding clay.

You need to select a very tough cultivar, or use seed grown plants.

Still interested?

There are other options from the maple world. A. rufinerve (a small
snakebark maple with pretty fall colours) seems to resist clay pretty
well. A. campestre (e.g. 'Carnival') will do well enough.

Funny I just looked in Hillier's under "clay soil" and they list "Acer
(all)"; so I guess there's a difference between "clay soil" and "clay."
Which are you?

-E