HINTS & TIPS - PLANTS FOR DIFFERENT SOIL TYPES
Plants for clay & silt soils
Plants for sandy soil

Have you ever tried to grow a plant which just simply doesn't thrive? It could be due to your soil type! We all have slightly different soil depending on where we live, from dry sandy soil to heavy, wet clay. Many plants just can't cope with the extreme conditions these soils provide, which is why it's important to assess your soil before planting. It's also a good idea to consider your soil pH (acidity or alkalinity) as this will affect certain plants too. Read on to learn all about your soil type and find plants suitable for your garden.

What type of soil do I have?

Soil type (texture) is defined by the percentage of clay, silt and sand it contains. These three ingredients form a ‘loam'. There are many variations of loam so you may well find your soil falls somewhere in-between the types described below.

Clay soil

Clay soils are composed of lots of tiny mineral particles which reduces the air space in the soil. This causes the soil to retain water and become easily compacted. You can tell if you are gardening on clay soil as it will be sticky, heavy and easily moulded into a shape when rubbed between your fingers. If you have hard soil in the garden during the summer this could be another clue that you have clay soil. Dry weather causes clay soil to bake hard and crack on the surface. These soils are very fertile but require some improvement to ‘unlock' the nutrients for plants to use.

Silt soil

Silt soils have slightly bigger particles than clay soils so are more free-draining but are still at risk of compaction. They are fertile and drain more effectively than clay but hold more moisture than sandy soils. You can tell if you are gardening on a silty soil as it can be moulded into a shape but will feel smooth rather than sticky. It won't hold its shape as easily as clay and will crack or crumble if rolled too thinly between the palms of your hand.

Sandy soil

Sandy soils have the largest particles (up to 1000 times bigger than clay) and are very free-draining due to the big air spaces between particles. You can tell if you are gardening on a sandy soil as it will feel light and gritty and cannot be moulded into a shape. Although easy to work and cultivate, sandy soils dry out very easily and often have poor fertility as the nutrients are simply washed away.

Whatever type of soil you have it's a good idea to incorporate lots of organic matter each year to improve or maintain the soil structure. Organic matter will aid drainage on clay and silt soils and help retain more water on sandy soils. It will also improve the fertility of any soil type. To find out more about improving your garden soil take a look at the ‘how to improve your garden soil' page.

Acid and alkaline soils

Some plants are particularly sensitive to the acidity or alkalinity of the soil and will grow poorly if given the wrong conditions. You can determine your soil pH with simple garden soil test kits available at most good garden centres. There are substances available which allow you to change the pH of your soil but these measures are temporary and repeat applications would have to be made annually to maintain this. It is best just to grow plants suited to your soil type. Some popular plants such as Camellias, Rhododendrons and Heathers need an acid soil and cannot tolerate chalky (alkaline) soils. If you're unable to grow these plants in the ground try growing them in large containers using ericaceous compost.

What plants can I grow?

A good place to start when choosing plants for your garden is to look at your neighbour's gardens. You will probably start to notice certain plants being grown in every garden, or spot a plant which you know needs a particular soil to thrive. This should give you some clues as to what will grow in your garden soil!

With the addition of organic matter, any plant could potentially be grown in your garden soil. However, I've put together a list of plants below which prefer, or can cope with, the extremes of a clay or sandy soil. Plants for silt soils have been placed with those for clay, as their qualities are similar. However with some improvement (see ‘How to improve your soil') a silt soil can support the plants listed for sandy soils. Also identified is the preferred soil pH of each plant.

Plants for clay & silt soils back to top

Plants for clay & silt soils	Plant Type	Suitable for   acid soils	Suitable for  alkaline soils	Suitable for  neutral soils	Extra features
Acer (Japanese Maple)	Tree
Crab Apple	Tree
Laburnum	Tree
Magnolia	Tree
Sorbus (Rowan)	Tree
Berberis	Shrub
Camellia	Shrub
Lilac (Syringa)	Shrub
Hydrangea	Shrub
Mahonia	Shrub
Pyracantha	Shrub
Rose	Shrub
Sambucus	Shrub
Vitis (Grape Vine)	Shrub
Weigela	Shrub
Aconitum	Perennial
Aster novi-belgii	Perennial
Astilbe	Perennial
Astrantia	Perennial
Bluebells	Perennial
Calamagrostis	Perennial
Carex elata	Perennial
Deschampsia	Perennial
Filipendula	Perennial
Foxglove	Perennial
Hosta	Perennial
Ophiopogon	Perennial
Peony	Perennial
Rodgersia	Perennial
Rudbeckia	Perennial
Solidago	Perennial

Description	Icon
Scented
Evergreen
Attractive foliage
Colourful berries or fruit
Autum leaf colour
Architectural
Herb
Spring flower
Summer flower
Winter flower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plants for sandy soil back to top

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