I've got a ⅓ acre lot in Southern Missouri, and I'm dealing with pretty challenging soil conditions. My land has about 8-12 inches of decent soil on top of a thick layer of clay, which takes forever to drain—like, a 16-inch by 11-inch hole takes at least 4 hours to clear up! After heavy rains, I often have standing water in parts of my yard for days. My neighbor joked there might be an underground river back there. I'm really hoping to grow some fruit trees and other plants, but all I see are warnings about needing well-drained soil. I'm looking for advice on whether there are actually fruits or veggies I can grow, or if I should go all out and create a rain garden or cover the yard with mulch in hopes it improves the soil over time. Speaking of mulch, should I get it for free from an arborist, or is landscape supply mulch a safer bet?
3 Answers
I’ve got a similar issue in New England. I’ve laid down tons of wood chips over my garden area and built up raised beds gradually. It’s helped with drainage, and I can choose my soil mix. My blueberry bushes and veggies are thriving that way, so give it a shot!
You might want to consider growing veggies in containers—some folks have success with fruit trees too, but you'll need larger containers and probably dwarf varieties to make them work. Just keep in mind that the trees may struggle in the winter if left in those containers.
Totally going the container route for veggies! Heard some say that fruit trees won't make it through winter when they're above ground, though.
Asparagus actually does well in clay and wet soils! If you haven't already, I recommend going with raised beds—they can really help in these conditions. And for mulch, I’d suggest buying in bulk from a reputable landscape supply store for the best quality.
Oh, I love asparagus! I didn't know they thrived in clay. As for the raised beds, what kind of materials should I consider? I’m expecting a bit of a hit on the wallet.
Did the wood chips work well for you? I plan to add it slowly, but I’m curious how much of a difference it made.