Trees for clay soil The following was received via email: Looking for information on getting hardy trees for clay soil in the Western New York area. Please advise on any good sources.
Cornell Extension Department offers factsheets and may be able to indicate where you may find local knowledge about the type of trees most successful in your area. Look up on the net: New York State Nursery/landscape Association. You will find it a good reference. There is an extensive list of trees that will grow in clay at: http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h-claytrees.html The Big Tree Program apparently documents trees growing in various states, including New York. They have a website which may help you.
For ease of growth you can't beat poplar in clay, but for a cash crop you'll have to go with black cherry (thirty plus years out of the money). Oak will go bad after a great start (ten years). Yellow birch must be there already. Trim the tops back at fifteen feet, or you'll lose them to snow. Their snake-like root structure is well suited to clay. If you don't have birtch, you can get saplings at most old gravel pits. Stay away from hemlock, as it will come out shakey. Any pine but red will do fine. Blowdowns will be a problem as conifers mature in humus over clay, but not too bad a problem. Standing water will always be a problem, but it will help if you run a ditch along the the lowest line through the area. If you have heavy equipment, you might consider a French Ditch, which is essentially an elongated sump hole. If you get under the first layer of hard pan you can make a wonderful pond. It must be at least eight feet deep over 1/4 of the surface area (to digest). Make it bigger than you want, because you're bound to regret not making it bigger.
This is a great website you've suggested. Thank you. I don't suppose you know another site that highlights trees for sandy soils?
There are several types of clay soil, and some drain quite nicely. Do you know what kind of clay soil? Can a local extension service examine it for you?
