Speaking as someone who had no idea what clay soil was, until I started gardening here on the east, it is actually very good for a lot of plants. It holds a lot of nutrients and moisture. I found mulching it heavily gave me excellent results. Oh and we are near a few airbases, too. If I thought about it I prob would not sleep. I lived through Vietnam in the US Cold War and nuclear bunkers, if I go, I go
Oh I'm VERY glad to hear you speak WELL of your clay. And yes, I gather that MULCH MULCH MULCH is the only thing to do. Does it just dry out a lot in the summer and needs more water than one should give a garden? Also, yes, in a way it's comforting that the world has been on the brink before and pulled itself back from the edge. x
When I first moved in, it did dry and really crack and there were weeds galore (I was told that is a sure sign of good soil - I was not convinced!) But the soil was SO much better after a few seasons of mulching. Lots of veg, fruit and flowers. Fingers crossed for you!
I also garden in clay, in beautiful South Shropshire. Don’t despair! Every soil type has its virtues and challenges. Clay hold moisture, as mentioned, and has lots of nutrients. Yes to mulching. Yes to loads of diversity to help earthworms and wildlife. I dig only minimally when I have to. Balance is everything.
Lordy Lucy, I found this highly depressing but riveting at the same time. Unfortunately, you are completely right. My entire plan for our future is changing before my very eyes. But, planning a garden is a way to take yourself out of the horrors we see each day on the news and I am going to concentrate on that, even if it means I have to dig it all up to make way for veg. Somehow, I think we all need to feel like we have a tiny grasp of control and my garden, my home, is the only way other than my Substack, of feeling, perhaps a delusional feeling, that we can get through it all. Plans have to continue regardless. Xx
I wanted to write something that reflects a bit the duality in my mind this week - excited for the future (new garden! new home!) and terrified for the future (WAR PROBABLY). I',m just bouncing between all these things, and so thought my writing should reflect that. I don't think we're delusional - it's the people saying there's nothing to worry about who are delusional! - I think we're finding joy where it can be found. Which is always (for me, like you) at home and in the garden x
Lady’s mantle is one of those wonderful plants that, like geraniums, tie everything together and is easier than you can imagine. And I’m on clay too.
I remember coming home after my first nuclear drill, crying to my Daddy. It was 1981 and Reagan was President, so it felt like a real possibility. Certainly the teachers talked about it that way. Daddy told me not to worry, that Ft. Worth was a primary strike city, so we’d all be dead immediately and that would be a better outcome. A strange way to comfort a 7 year old, but it worked. So maybe there are some advantages to being near a NATO base?
Your dad sounds like a very straightforward person. I respect that. I don't know that I'm... hugely comforted that I'll be dead before I know what's hit me, but who knows. Perhaps before the big bombs there will be lots of sexy men in uniform, and I would NOT hate that. x
Sorry Lucy, I can't do war and gardening! I come to Substack gardening for some respite from the world. Could you put a warning at the top of any future "war that is not on slugs" post? Fully appreciate that it's your Substack and you should write what you want to, but I have the horrible ability to take in a paragraph of the written word at a glance.
As a 67 year old, I spent a lot of my formative years under the threat of nuclear war. So much so that my husband and I don’t take an awful lot of notice now. It’s more c’est la vie than OMG.
I wouldn’t wish our past (scratchy woollen jumpers, no central heating, no double glazing, a paraffin stove on the landing!) and the constant threat from the USSR. No one could’ve been more pleased than us to see the Berlin Wall come down.
But, as others have said more eloquently, you’ve got to just carry on and hope for the best. (A. mollis a very good choice.)
I have alchemilla mixed with blue geraniums running right along the long edge of a lawn, keeping the grass tame. The alchemilla looks great in flower and in leaf.
Wooooooow. Every picture of your garden seems even more extraordinary than the last, Anne! And yes, the 'good in flower and leaf' was definitely on my list of pros. Will it froth and spill, though?
It doesn’t spill. It does froth. The leaves are gorgeous and if you cut it down to the ground as the flowers go over it will be back in leaf in 10 days and see you out into the autumn. A brilliant plant. And the geraniums mix well with it.
Struggling as an American these days. I really appreciate your juxtaposition of borders and proximity. I live near Washington DC. And I agree that Lady’s Mantle may be a good way to go.
Oh I'm so glad to have your endorsement for Alch Mol, Susan. Thank you. I wanted my post to reflect the complete scramble in my brain this week - one minute flowers, the next foreign policy, the next daydreaming of new gardens, the next musing on the rule of law. There's a lot in the old noggin' right now. Good to get it all out.
Rejoice in clay. Mulch heavily every season and in 2 blinks of the eyes you will have lovely fertile soil. And Rosa Mutabilis is an easy rose so don’t be put off. It’s all work but keeps us out of trouble and our minds on the greener things in life 💚💚💚
Sorry to be the only one to disagree about alchemilla. Best when it’s just rained and you get perfect little droplets of water sitting on the leaves. I always used to cut the flowers off as I thought they were a bit tatty. Clay soil is full of nutrients but you get about a week of it being workable as it is either like wet plasticine or dried out like concrete. Lots of mulch will help but it will take time, don’t be too depressed if you get there and it has dried out and is therefore difficult to plant into. It will improve.
Heavily invested in Glos. situation. Please update as soon as there are news.
Try and stop me. x
Speaking as someone who had no idea what clay soil was, until I started gardening here on the east, it is actually very good for a lot of plants. It holds a lot of nutrients and moisture. I found mulching it heavily gave me excellent results. Oh and we are near a few airbases, too. If I thought about it I prob would not sleep. I lived through Vietnam in the US Cold War and nuclear bunkers, if I go, I go
Oh I'm VERY glad to hear you speak WELL of your clay. And yes, I gather that MULCH MULCH MULCH is the only thing to do. Does it just dry out a lot in the summer and needs more water than one should give a garden? Also, yes, in a way it's comforting that the world has been on the brink before and pulled itself back from the edge. x
When I first moved in, it did dry and really crack and there were weeds galore (I was told that is a sure sign of good soil - I was not convinced!) But the soil was SO much better after a few seasons of mulching. Lots of veg, fruit and flowers. Fingers crossed for you!
Thank you so much Lisa, this is encouraging. Just maybe a few tricky summers to start!
I also garden in clay, in beautiful South Shropshire. Don’t despair! Every soil type has its virtues and challenges. Clay hold moisture, as mentioned, and has lots of nutrients. Yes to mulching. Yes to loads of diversity to help earthworms and wildlife. I dig only minimally when I have to. Balance is everything.
Not so proud to be an American, but I am glad we have gardening. ♥️
Thank GOD for gardening.
Lordy Lucy, I found this highly depressing but riveting at the same time. Unfortunately, you are completely right. My entire plan for our future is changing before my very eyes. But, planning a garden is a way to take yourself out of the horrors we see each day on the news and I am going to concentrate on that, even if it means I have to dig it all up to make way for veg. Somehow, I think we all need to feel like we have a tiny grasp of control and my garden, my home, is the only way other than my Substack, of feeling, perhaps a delusional feeling, that we can get through it all. Plans have to continue regardless. Xx
I wanted to write something that reflects a bit the duality in my mind this week - excited for the future (new garden! new home!) and terrified for the future (WAR PROBABLY). I',m just bouncing between all these things, and so thought my writing should reflect that. I don't think we're delusional - it's the people saying there's nothing to worry about who are delusional! - I think we're finding joy where it can be found. Which is always (for me, like you) at home and in the garden x
Lady’s mantle is one of those wonderful plants that, like geraniums, tie everything together and is easier than you can imagine. And I’m on clay too.
I remember coming home after my first nuclear drill, crying to my Daddy. It was 1981 and Reagan was President, so it felt like a real possibility. Certainly the teachers talked about it that way. Daddy told me not to worry, that Ft. Worth was a primary strike city, so we’d all be dead immediately and that would be a better outcome. A strange way to comfort a 7 year old, but it worked. So maybe there are some advantages to being near a NATO base?
Your dad sounds like a very straightforward person. I respect that. I don't know that I'm... hugely comforted that I'll be dead before I know what's hit me, but who knows. Perhaps before the big bombs there will be lots of sexy men in uniform, and I would NOT hate that. x
Always a silver lining!
Sorry Lucy, I can't do war and gardening! I come to Substack gardening for some respite from the world. Could you put a warning at the top of any future "war that is not on slugs" post? Fully appreciate that it's your Substack and you should write what you want to, but I have the horrible ability to take in a paragraph of the written word at a glance.
I entirely understand, Linda, and next time will be more explicit.
Thank you!
As a 67 year old, I spent a lot of my formative years under the threat of nuclear war. So much so that my husband and I don’t take an awful lot of notice now. It’s more c’est la vie than OMG.
I wouldn’t wish our past (scratchy woollen jumpers, no central heating, no double glazing, a paraffin stove on the landing!) and the constant threat from the USSR. No one could’ve been more pleased than us to see the Berlin Wall come down.
But, as others have said more eloquently, you’ve got to just carry on and hope for the best. (A. mollis a very good choice.)
I have alchemilla mixed with blue geraniums running right along the long edge of a lawn, keeping the grass tame. The alchemilla looks great in flower and in leaf.
See https://www.gapphotos.com/imagedetails.asp?view=view-across-alchemilla-mollis-on-edge-of-border-to-crescent-border-veddw-house-garden-wales-&imageno=171023 and https://www.gapphotos.com/imagedetails.asp?view=view-over-wide-border-of-alchemilla-mollis-and-mixed-border-surrounding-lawn-with-metal-table-and-chairs-painted-pastel-colours-and-formal-hedges-of-yew-in-background-image-taken-from-drone-july-&imageno=1553119
Wooooooow. Every picture of your garden seems even more extraordinary than the last, Anne! And yes, the 'good in flower and leaf' was definitely on my list of pros. Will it froth and spill, though?
It doesn’t spill. It does froth. The leaves are gorgeous and if you cut it down to the ground as the flowers go over it will be back in leaf in 10 days and see you out into the autumn. A brilliant plant. And the geraniums mix well with it.
Hope you get your Cotswold home!
Struggling as an American these days. I really appreciate your juxtaposition of borders and proximity. I live near Washington DC. And I agree that Lady’s Mantle may be a good way to go.
Oh I'm so glad to have your endorsement for Alch Mol, Susan. Thank you. I wanted my post to reflect the complete scramble in my brain this week - one minute flowers, the next foreign policy, the next daydreaming of new gardens, the next musing on the rule of law. There's a lot in the old noggin' right now. Good to get it all out.
Rejoice in clay. Mulch heavily every season and in 2 blinks of the eyes you will have lovely fertile soil. And Rosa Mutabilis is an easy rose so don’t be put off. It’s all work but keeps us out of trouble and our minds on the greener things in life 💚💚💚
Sorry to be the only one to disagree about alchemilla. Best when it’s just rained and you get perfect little droplets of water sitting on the leaves. I always used to cut the flowers off as I thought they were a bit tatty. Clay soil is full of nutrients but you get about a week of it being workable as it is either like wet plasticine or dried out like concrete. Lots of mulch will help but it will take time, don’t be too depressed if you get there and it has dried out and is therefore difficult to plant into. It will improve.
Also re Alch Mol (shall always call it that in future), once you have it, you'll get little seedlings that are easily redeployed elsewhere.
Sometimes too many little seedlings...
Could have a gap in the middle to frame a glimpse of the wonderful view.
Would also mean that the dogs wouldn't have to shoulder their way through your border to bark at the sheep.