Gardening in Union County, NC

Gardening in Union County, NC

Making the Best of Bad Soil

Whether you garden in Monroe, Waxhaw, Indian Trail, or Wingate, you have probably encountered the hard, impenetrable soil of our county. Concrete is a substance that likely comes to mind when most of us begin digging in our yards to plant a new shrub.

The culprit is Union County's clay soil.  Whether it is red or gray/brown, our clay is a difficult medium in which to garden.  It compacts because the soil particles are small and bind too closely together.  Organic matter helps to improve the soil structure of clay by creating spaces between the clay soil particles.  The New York Times Q & A (2003, p711) states that compost creates new "spaces between these clumps of clay and form a network of open pores through which water, oxygen, and plant roots can move freely... Water has multiple places to go, so it's not all bound up in the clay, and plant roots have an easier time moving through the soil in search of the things they need."

Amending your planting soil will help your plant to thrive, not just survive. Better soil gives your investment of shrubs, trees, and flowers the opportunity to grow and you have less stress for your plant and less loss of plants in your landscape.

When should I amend?

• Clemson University's school of horticulture recommends the following drainage test before you plant a tree or shrub:

          1. Dig a hole 2 to 3 feet deep at the site where you intend to plant.

          2. Fill the hole with water.

          3. Wait 2 hours. If there is still water in the hole, your soil is likely compacted and requires  amendments to improve drainage.

• Professional landscapers recommend that all planting sites be amended prior to installing any shrub or tree.  As well, planting your flowers and bedding plants in amended soil provides a better growing environment for the fine roots of those plants.

How should I amend?

• Till your existing soil to a depth of 12 - 18 inches.
• Add 4 inches of the recommended amendments and compost and re-till the bed until completely incorporated.
• The standard recipe for soil amendments is 1 part porous aggregate, like vermiculite or PermaTil®, and 2 parts compost such as pine bark fines. This creates more openings for water and air around the roots of the new plants and adds the nutrition provided by the partially composted pine bark.
• Once the amendments are incorporated into the soil, follow the planting and watering guidelines recommended by Clemson University to guarantee the best possible results for your new plants.

The fall is an excellent time for planting since shrubs and trees are going dormant. Make your new plants thrive, even in your Union County clay, with soil amendments that create the best possible environment for new roots to spread. Our county's Cooperative Extension Service can provide additional information about great plants to choose for your garden.