What Kind Of Trees Or Shrubs Should I Get For…
Ina Asked
What kind of trees or shrubs should I get for the clay soil I have around my house? It doesn’t drain well.
The Gardener’s Answer
Hello, Ina: There are many plants that thrive in moist conditions. I am not sure what you are dealing with in terms of light conditions but I would assume you have more sun than shade since you mentioned there are no existing trees. So, as far as sun-loving perennials that will grow in moist conditions the following are a few possibilities: swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnate), turtlehead (Chelone), sneezeweed (Helenium), swamp sunflower (Helinthus), daylily (Hemerocallis), hibiscus (Swamp Rose Mallow), bee balm (Monarda), blue flag iris (Iris versiclor), cardinal flower (Lobelia) and black-eyed-Susan (Rudbeckia nitida). Ornamental grasses are also a good option: carex, acornus, juncus, miscanthus, and switchgrass would all be happy in these conditions. Some shrub options include: bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora), sweetshrub (Clethra alnifolia), sweetspire (Itea virginica), and viburnum nudum. Tree options include: bald cypress, swamp white oak, dawn redwood, silky and gray dogwood, sweetgum, and river birch. Check with your local garden centers to see what they carry and if they have any sales coming up. Most nurseries and garden centers have summer sales. You can usually find some good deals but just make sure you are going to be in town to water your new plantings! You may even check with your landlord to see if they will share the expense with you. Landscaping will certainly attract more wildlife.
