For that reason, clay soil can be hard to work with if you don’t know what plants to put in your garden. However, planting in clay soil is not as limiting or challenging as you might think. Having knowledge about the plants that do well in clay soil will help you make a garden that makes your neighbors want to know your secret. In this article, we’ll cover:
Ground covers are the unsung heroes of landscaping. These low-growing plants spread steadily to form a living carpet that suppresses weeds, prevents erosion, and brings non-stop color to your yard. But not all ground covers thrive in dense, heavy clay soils that dominate many properties.
Choosing the right ground covering plants ensures you’ll get a lush, vibrant living mulch layer that thrives for years even in challenging clay soil. Read on for the best options to beautify your yard and control weeds in clay.
Why Use Ground Covers?
Ground covers offer a low-maintenance, eco-friendly alternative to mulch and serve many important functions:
- Spread to choke out weeds like a natural herbicide
- Prevent mud and erosion on slopes and bare areas
- Create lush, attractive beds with less work than lawn grass
- Provide a habitat for pollinators and other beneficial wildlife
- Require minimal mowing, fertilizing or irrigation once established
Ground Cover Challenges in Heavy Clay Soil
While ground covers offer easy care and weed suppression, dense clay soils can make it tricky to get them established. Clay’s poor drainage, compaction, and shifty wet-dry cycles present obstacles including:
- Poor aeration that suffocates plant roots and stunts growth
- Difficulty spreading as compacted clay resists their creeping stems
- Spotty coverage with bare patches where plants fail to thrive
- Erosion on slopes as plants die out in poor growing conditions
But certain tough, resilient ground covers can overcome these challenges and create a thriving living mulch layer even in sticky, muddy clay soil.
Best Plants for Clay Soil Ground Cover
Selecting ground covers well-adapted to clay’s moisture fluctuations and poor drainage sets your yard up for success. Here are the best options:
Creeping Phlox
A classic flowering ground cover perfect for clay soils. Available in a rainbow of colors.
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Grows just 6” tall in a dense mat
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Early spring blooms in pink, purple, blue, white or bicolors
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Tolerates wet soil but also handles drought well once established
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Spreads steadily to choke out weeds
Popular varieties Emerald Blue Red White, Candy Stripe
Sedum
Succulent ground covers that thrive in poor soil where other plants fail.
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Tolerate drought, heat, humidity, and poor drainage
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Spread up to 2 feet wide, reaching just 3-6” tall
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Produce carpets of colorful succulent foliage and late summer blooms
Top varieties: Dragon’s Blood, Tricolor, Angelina, Yellow, Purple Emperor
Sweet Woodruff
A shade-loving ground cover with sweetly fragrant leaves and starry white spring flowers.
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Grows 6-12” tall in a dense mat
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Spreads vigorously by underground runners to deter weeds
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Thrives in moist, heavy soils and clay
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Goes dormant after blooming, so combine with other covers
Deadnettle
An adaptable ground cover that blooms most of the year in shady moist areas.
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Grows just 6” tall but spreads over time to form colonies
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Produces clusters of pink or white flowers from spring to fall
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Handles part sun but does best in full to partial shade
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Tolerates clay soil and a range of growing conditions
Trailing Periwinkle
Dependable evergreen ground cover that brightens shady areas with blue-purple blooms.
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Matures at just 4-6” tall but spreads indefinitely
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Cheery spring flowers and showy dark green foliage
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Withstands drought, heat, humidity and poor drainage once established
Tips for Installing Ground Covers in Clay Soil
Preparation and care when first planting will help your ground covers thrive in clay long-term:
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Loosen and amend soil with compost to improve drainage before planting
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Space new plants closer together than usual to quickly achieve full coverage
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Use erosion control mesh on slopes to stabilize plants until established
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Water thoroughly after planting and provide supplemental water during dry periods
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Apply organic mulch around new plantings to retain moisture and suppress weeds
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Be patient – it may take 2-3 years for full establishment and spread in clay conditions
With the right plants suited to the challenges of clay soil, you can unleash gorgeous ground covers to beautify and protect your landscape. Avoid high maintenance lawns and enjoy a lush living mulch layer that thrives for years blanketing your yard.
How to identify clay soil
Identifying clay soil is easy. First, it’s generally reddish-brown or dark brown in color. If you’ve seen water pooling on the ground instead of seeping in, it’s likely that you have clay soil. It’s also likely to be sticky, so clay soil sticks to your shoes or crusts over and cracks when it’s dry.
If you are unsure whether your soil is clay or not purchase a soil testing kit. You can find them at most garden centers or contact your local cooperative extension. A soil test from a garden center will give you immediate results. However, sending your soil to your local cooperative extension lab will provide the most accurate and comprehensive results.
How do you break up clay soil for gardening?
The easiest way to break up clay soil without digging is to spread 4 to 6 inches of straw or hay that has been broken down. Let it sit on top of the clay for about a year, and you’ll see it break down slowly.
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FAQ
What do you cover clay soil with?
Will Creeping Phlox grow in clay soil?
What is the best cover crop for clay soil?
Which groundcovers do well in clay soil?
A number of groundcovers do well in clay soil. Here is a list of ground covers you can consider for your garden with clay soils. 1. Brown headed creeping rush. (Juncus Phaeocephalus) This plant’s ability to cover large ground makes it a better option for covering open spaces in a lawn or garden.
What plants grow well in clay soil?
Brown-Headed Creeping Rush: This native plant is perfect for ground cover purposes, as it can cover a large area with its flat stems and beautiful brown-colored flowers. It thrives in clay soil and is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10. 2. Foamflower: Another native plant, foamflower is an excellent choice for shade gardens with clay soil.
Are ground cover plants useful for clay soil?
Finding useful ground cover plants for clay soil can be tricky. This soil type has a drainage problem, which removes many plants out of contention. These limitations can make life tough for even the most optimistic clay soil planter. After all, ground cover plants are useful for covering many problem areas:
What is a good ground cover plant?
Here are some top picks: 1. Brown-Headed Creeping Rush: This native plant is perfect for ground cover purposes, as it can cover a large area with its flat stems and beautiful brown-colored flowers. It thrives in clay soil and is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10.