Newlands · Garden inspiration
Plants for Clay Soil
Find plants for heavier garden soil, including Hydrangea, Viburnum, hostas, daylilies and other suitable perennials. Choose for your light and drainage as well as the soil texture.
Work with your clay soil
Clay holds moisture and nutrients, but its drainage and workability vary. Hydrangeas and Viburnum offer shrub options, while hostas, Bergenia, Astrantia and daylilies bring foliage or flowers to suitable sites. Choose each plant for sun or shade and avoid treating clay as a single set of conditions. Soil that stays saturated needs a different approach from heavy soil that drains between showers. Improve soil structure where appropriate and avoid trampling or digging when it is very wet. Our team can help interpret your garden photos and choose for the actual conditions.
Check the drainage
Notice how long water remains after rain. Clay-tolerant does not automatically mean tolerant of standing water.
Plant when workable
Avoid working saturated soil. Prepare a broad planting area and discuss suitable organic matter with our team.
Match sun and shade
Hostas and hydrangeas have different needs from sunny-border daylilies. Check the individual variety.
Complete your planting project
Bring garden photos and measurements to our qualified horticultural team at Newlands Home & Garden Centre. We can help you compare plants and plan a combination suited to your space.
Explore our Plants departmentKeep exploring
