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Clay soil is very sticky, clumps together when wet, and takes a red hue. Clay can be nutritious, but its tendency to clump together and retain water chokes roots.
Clay warms more slowly than other types, and you find it where water stagnates — like some parts of West Tennessee. When it dries, clay soil cracks and breaks apart. Mix in composted organic matter and sand to improve drainage of this soil.
Pros: Clay soil holds water and nutrition. Cons: It compacts, drains poorly, and can choke plant roots. It cracks when dry. Vegetables: Shrubs, Fruiting, & Ornamental Trees Ornamental: Helen’s Flower, Aster, Bergamot, and Flowering quince.