Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Pine Trees for Clay Soils
Pine Trees for Clay Soils. Clay soil can be a problem for gardeners and homeowners. Clay is slow-draining, heavy and often alkaline, and there are few trees for which clay soil is ideal. Fortunately, several pines and other evergreen trees can survive and even thrive in clay soil, which does have the advantage of retaining water well and being...
Clay soil can be a problem for gardeners and homeowners. Clay is slow-draining, heavy and often alkaline, and there are few trees for which clay soil is ideal. Fortunately, several pines and other evergreen trees can survive and even thrive in clay soil, which does have the advantage of retaining water well and being generally nutrient-rich. To help you decide which pines are right for your area, look at a hardiness zone map and consult with a local expert before you plant any trees.
Ponderosa Pine
Valued as landscape trees as well as for their lumber, ponderosa pines are hardy and adaptable, and will grow in a wide range of soil types and conditions, including clay. They have a natural range that covers large portions of the western United States, where they can reach heights up to 150 feet. The trees grow with an open pyramidal formation and are adorned with long, green needles and large, red-brown pine cones. The bark of the ponderosa pine is deeply furrowed, becoming increasingly irregular with age. These trees are resistant to most diseases and pests and are drought-tolerant, though moist but well-drained soil with full sun is best.
Austrian Pine
Large evergreens that are often used as a specimen trees, Austrian pines grow to about 40 feet tall, with a pyramidal form that becomes rounded and flat-topped as the trees age. They tolerate a wide range of soil conditions that would ordinarily be unfavorable, including drought, alkaline soils, low nutrients and heavy clay. Ideal conditions include full to partial sun and moist, well-drained soil. The needles are 5 inches long, dark green and stiff, and the pine cones are about 2 inches and brown. These trees may be susceptible to Diplodia tip blight and pine sawfly larvae in some areas.
Colorado Spruce
Also known as blue spruce, this broad, dense, pyramid-shaped evergreen is known for the light blue-green color of its foliage. With 1-inch needles and 2 1/2- to 4-inch cones, these trees are slow-growing and typically reach 30 to 60 feet. Dwarf cultivars are available. Native to the Rocky Mountains but widely planted elsewhere, the Colorado spruce is the most drought-tolerant of all spruces, but usually does not do well with too much water. Like most spruce trees, it performs well in clay soil, But well-drained, moist soil with full sunlight is ideal. It will not grow in shade.
