This type of soil goes rock-solid in summer, and in winter it sticks in big lumps to your boots. On the good side, clay is full of plant nutrients so it needs less, if any, fertilizer. How to make gardening easier?
1. Improve the soil
Loads of organic matter. Use garden compost, farmyard manure or shop-bought soil conditioner. Dig it in where you can while the ground is ‘diggable’, usually in the autumn or spring. Alternatively, spread it thickly on the surface between plants, and let the earthworms take it down. Top it up every spring. Soon the soil will become looser and weeds will be much easier to pull out.
2. Keep off it and aerate
Do not walk or stand in the borders when the ground is wet. It compacts the soil and makes the problem worse. If you can time it right, lawn aeration (making lots of narrow holes, 10-20 centimetres deep) either with a garden fork or a hired machine can greatly improve a hard, moss-ridden lawn.
3. Grow clay-loving plants
Some plants positively thrive in clay soil. Amongst them are rose, hydrangea, fuchsia, escallonia, weigela, aster and hosta. For more options look here www.rhs.org.uk.
4. Grow plants in containers
If your clay soil is also full of flint, you might like to take the easy way out. Use large containers (or raised beds) and remember to water and feed your plants.
Euonymus japonicus and hydrangea thrive on clay