Ground cover for dry clay

AshLee · #1 (**permalink**) 17-10-2009, 05:51 PM

I am looking for a ground cover plant that will grow on a very dry clay soil in a certain area of my garden. The soil is so dry that even drought tolerant grass struggles. The site is sunny so light levels are not a problem. The more wildlife friendly, the better.

Thanks in advance.

Kayleigh · #2 (**permalink**) 17-10-2009, 06:15 PM

Cant you describe the area or maybe take some pics of the area as there are a lot of rockery type plants that love sunny dry spots that are ground covers.
Does the site get waterlogged in winter or is it a frost pocket..

AshLee · #3 (**permalink**) 17-10-2009, 08:15 PM

Hi Kayleigh,
The area is dry because it is next to some trees (non-deciduous mainly). The area never gets waterlogged and rarely gets cold.
Thanks again

aeshna5 · #4 (**permalink**) 18-10-2009, 06:18 AM

You could try Geranium macrorhizum which is a pretty adaptable ground cover with magenta or whitish flowers. It is tolerant of drought once established.

AshLee · #5 (**permalink**) 18-10-2009, 06:23 AM

Thanks for your suggestion aeshna5

Looks like an interesting possibility.

Cotham Marble · #6 (**permalink**) 18-10-2009, 09:55 AM

Geranium macrorhizum - seconded. It's an excellent bee plant and fairly early flowering, it's also eminently propagatable - 2cms of rhizome will produce a flourishing plant within a few months. Also the foliage has a strong scent so great to plant along side paths.

Dry clay is a challenging environment, whatever you do decide to plant, it would be worth investing some effort to improve at least the top ten centimetres of soil by adding some organic material.

CM

AshLee · #7 (**permalink**) 18-10-2009, 10:31 AM

Thanks CM

I think some work is definitely warranted. Pick axe and bags of compost and sand at the ready!

Hedera · #8 (**permalink**) 18-10-2009, 10:46 AM

Sedums would be a good bet. There are some which form mats and have pink or yellow flowers, and others which grow up to nearly 3 feet tall. They don't mind shade or poor soil and have fleshy leaves which hold their own moisture. Insects love the flowers for nectar, too. They can smother weeds. Some have variegated leaves.

AshLee · #9 (**permalink**) 18-10-2009, 10:51 AM

Thanks Hedera, I had wondered about these, but wasn't at all sure about the clay

I will consider them some more.

Cotham Marble · #10 (**permalink**) 18-10-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshLee

Thanks Hedera, I had wondered about these, but wasn't at all sure about the clay

I will consider them some more.

For what it's worth I think you are right to 'wonder'. With both sedums and the also suggested herbs I think there's likely quite some difficulty with surviving "winter wet" - these are plants that hate being cold and wet and frequently fail to survive winters where the soil is not free draining.

In a sheltered spot in the southern half of the UK one might get away with it, and more so where the clay is a 'marl. In exposed areas and on acid clays I wouldn't have a lot of hope for the survival of any succulent or mediteranean orginating herbs - at least not without a great deal of work on the soil with full top spit digging in of a significant percentage of humus and grit.

CM

AshLee · #11 (**permalink**) 18-10-2009, 08:48 PM

Hi CM,

I'm in London, and the spot is very sheltered. I feel the key is more grit (or sand, not sure which

). Dry clay seems to be so plant-unfriendly. When you can't get even drought tolerant grass to grow that well, you know you've got problems, I think.

I love the look of Sedums (as long as they aren't on rooves, for some reason

).

Thanks for all the advice. You obviously speak from experience.

Ash