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New England Gardening

Growing Sea Holly when your native soil is clay?

deanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b

last year

I have loved Sea Holly for a long time but never grew it because my soil is NOT sandy or well-draining on it’s own, as our natural soil is clay both by experience and geographical classification. I get well-drained soil by using compost and peat moss in generous amounts added in when establishing a bed, and sometimes loam, as well.

I bit the bullet and bought seeds to sow. How will I plant this? Fertile soil with compost will create tall rangy plants. It needs soil that is sandy and with less nutrients. Do any of you have experience growing this plant in your normal soil that is NOT sandy? I don’t want to assume I need to bring in truckloads of sand to create a place for this plant to thrive.

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Comments (5)

mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
last year
We grew it in Hyde Park for many years. Interesting plant. Soil there is reasonably well amended acidic clay-loam. So I would call it fairly normal garden soil. Sand is a myth in my world.

Be careful when talking about 'clay'. A remark I remember is someone saying the proper response to 'I have clay soil' is 'Where are the brickyards?' There is a big difference between a heavy, compacted clay loam, which is what I'm used to, and real clay. Real clay is nasty, and fairly rare. You can make things out of it, like bricks. Clay loam is some of the best soil in the world. It just takes a bit of work.
deanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b thanked mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
deanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
Original Author
last year
Thanks, MG. I've looked at my geological soil classification for my area, and "make a brick" is not the type of clay i have. I am "moderately well-draining" which is not too bad, i guess. I suppose I can add some peat to my soil, not compost, and it will be good enough.
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mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
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Compost is much better than peat. When peat dries out, it is horrendous to rewet. The only time I use it is if I need to drop the pH for something.
deanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b thanked mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
deanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
Original Author
last year
Thanks for that reminder. For some reason my brain can’t get rid of the idea that too much compost can cause compact soils, and that’s the opposite of what it does. If I need drier well-draining soils peat is likely not the best option!
Sigrid
last year
I used to garden on make-a-brick clay. The kids made bowls from the clay and we fired them in the wood-burning stove. Not exactly beautiful, but fun to do. I developed so many ideas, like, you never need to water that I had to forget when I moved to my current location with sandy soil.

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