We are located in Doylestown Pa. and are surrounded with heavy
clay soils. The soils in our area like those in Bedminster
Township will not support plants that can't tolerate wet feet.
Thus our nursery does not offer plants such as Firs . We do have
some spots that will grow firs where the topsoil is deepest and
well drained. Over the years we have tried to modify soils using
compost and drain tiles. Yet long term nature wins out. The home
owner will want to plant species that are not found naturally in
their area so the home owner will want to modify their soils. On
a small scale this is possible. The use of mounds , the addition
of sand, compost and drain tiles is effective in modifing clay
to make growing clay intolerant plants possible. Usually large
amounts of sand and compost is needed. But be aware that
building up the soil in one area can make more problems in
adjacent areas. We also suggest that if you don't see a plant
growing in your area, only purchase seedlings or inexpensive
container plants to try in your landscape before spending large
amounts of money on large plants only to find out they are not
hardy in your soils.
The following list is suggested plants that do better in clay
soils. Norway maple (Acer platanoides) Silver maple (Acer
saccharinum) European alder (Alnus glutinosa) River birch
(Betula nigra) we have Heritage and Common River birches Honey
locust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis) Apple, crabapple
(Malus) Norway spruce (Picea abies) Austrian pine (Pinus nigra)
Eastern White Pine (pinus strobus) Pear (Pyrus) Bur oak (Quercus
macrocarpa) Willow (Salix) only on large properties, away from
everything especially in septic fields Linden (Tilia) Shrubs
Black chokecherry (Aronia melanocarpa) Red osier dogwood (Cornus
sericea) Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) Burning bush
(Euonymus alatus) Forsythia (Forsythia) Honeysuckle (Lonicera)
Potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa) Willow (Salix) weeping and
corkscrew Elderberry (Sambucus) Lilac (Syringa) French, Korean ,
Common, Micheal Dodge White cedar (Thuja occidentalis) We only
have afew large ones but thousands of seedlings We raise over 10
types of Viburnums on our farms from seedlings to 5' shrubs. If
you have poor soils due to compacting from construction, try
viburnums. Being rugged and hardy, they perform where other
plants fail.American Cranberry Bush ,Korean Spice,Blackhaw
,ArrowwoodViburnum ,Chicago Luster,Dawn,Summer Snowflake,
Shasta,Erie,Tea,Judd,Korean Spice, Praque,and Siebold. Our web
sites include http://www.seedlingsrus.com and
http://www.zone5trees.com
|
