Plants that tolerate heavy clay soils

Clay soils are very common in Central New York. These types of soils are high in nutrients, but it can be difficult for some plants to establish a root system if the clay is especially dense and hard. It can also be poorly drained. Some plants are better adapted to survive in this type of soil than others. If planting a smaller shrub, you can amend the clay soil with compost to increase the drainage and soften the soil for better root penetration. Digging a hole 2 to 3 times wider than the root ball when planting will help to break up the clay so that young roots can penetrate into the surrounding soil better. We have developed a list of trees and shrubs that do well in heavy clay soils. For a copy of this guide to download and keep please click here.

Not all varieties are available throughout the season so please call ahead to check current availability with our nursery.