Hello I am an inexperienced gardener. And I seem to have made a mistake. I planted a green gage plum tree earlier today (sapling, about 6ft tall), and discovered that my yard's soil is extremely clay like. I just followed the planting tips I had already researched and thought I was alright until I read this tonight: "It is better to improve the existing [clay] soil with compost or potting soil than to replace it with potting soil. This is worth repeating. Filling the hole with rich soil is likely to cause root rot. Rich soil will absorb water quickly, but it can’t drain away through heavy clay soil. The rich soil will usually be even wetter than heavy clay and root rot is likely. When you improve the existing soil, it is easier for water and roots to move from the improved soil to the existing soil." http://www.rodsgarden.50megs.com/clayplanting.htmThis is almost exactly what I did. I dug a 2ft deep, 4ft wide hole and only returned a few shovelfulls to the main part of the hole mixed in with a majority of potting soil and compost. I covered the top of this with the original soil and then mulch. The clay does not drain well at all. I had to use water to loosen the clay and the water pooled deeply in the bottom of the hole. The clay is so hard I used a hatchet to hack away at it. Is what this website says true? Is my only option to dig up my plum tree and mix more clay into the soil? Are there other options? Should I do something immediately? Are my poor tree's roots already rotting? There is rain expected later this week in my area, and of course I watered him deeply after planting. Please help. I don't want to already be killing my tree the day I planted him. I mean, he even has a name: Joe the Plum Tree. (I'd also love any other tips on how not to kill Joe. I have researched Green Gages, I just didn't know about the clay thing.) -Michelle
Anything creating a markedly different texture inside the planting hole can be the source of the same difficulty. Planting Hole Preparation Dig a hole no deeper than the root mass, but at least twice as wide. Build a soil mound in the middle of the hole to help spread the roots evenly. Remove roots, weeds, large rocks, and other debris from the planting hole. Do not add gravel, fertilizers, organic matter, or other amendments to the planting hole. Do not loosen or otherwise disturb the soil at the bottom of the hole. http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/~linda chalker-scott/FactSheets/Planting fact sheet.pdf
In the situation described, given that the different textures of planting material are going to cause problems in the future, the best solution would probably to be to dig up the plum, add some soil to the hole, and replant such that the tree is in a raised mound. Six inches above grade with a gradual slope down would probably be ok.
