Planting to suit the soil type
BY READERS DIGEST
1st Jan 2015 Home & Garden
Gardeners often complain about their soil, but remember that in the wild there are few places where nothing will grow: it's just a question of plants and soil being compatible.
Plants for light, sandy soils
Sandy soil won't retain moisture and has a low nutritional value, so it doesn't please heavy feeders such as roses. The good news is that the plants that grow well in it are naturally drought-tolerant, and ideal for our drier summers.
Try the following plants:
- Alliums
- Broom (Cytisus—above)
- Centranthus
- Convolvulus cneorum
- Eryngiums
- Euphorbia characias
- Gypsophila
- Hibiscus
- Iris unguicularis
- Lavatera
- Lupins
- Potentillas
- Rock roses (Cistus)
- Sempervivums
- Verbascums
Plants for heavy clay soils
A regular mulch with organic matter will make sticky clay soil so much easier to work while also retaining its high quota of nutrients. Roses will thrive in it, as will some of the most free-flowering shrubs and perennials.
Try the following plants:
- Ajuga
- Asters
- Astilbes
- Chaenomeles
- Cornus alba (above)
- Forsythia
- Ligularia
- Monardas
- Pulmonarias
- Salix babylonica‘tortuosa’
- Sanguisorba
- Roses
- Weigelas
- Viburnums (top image)
Plants for acid soils
Rhododendrons and heathers growing in neighbouring gardens are sure signs that your soil is acid, and will be loved by woodland plants brought up on soil enriched with fallen leaves that has good water-retaining properties.
Try the following plants:
- Azaleas and rhododendrons
- Camellias
- Crinodendrons
- Eucryphia
- Fothergilla
- Hamamelis
- Heathers (Calluna, Daboecia, Erica)
- Iris laevigata
- Japanese maples
- Liquidambar
- Liriope (above)
- Pieris
- Trilliums
Plants for alkaline soils
Alkaline soils are also usually dry, light and stony. These soils are perfect for creating beautiful wildflower meadows and Mediterranean maquis-style plantings, but there are plenty of traditional border plants that will thrive, too.
Try the following plants:
- Astrantias
- Buddleia
- Bearded iris
- Campanulas
- Clematis
- Dianthus
- Laburnum
- Lilacs (Syringa)
- Lilium candidum
- Philadelphus
- Pulmonaria
- Prunus
- Sambucus (above)
- Sedums
- Verbena bonariensis
