Clay soil is often considered to be a gardening nightmare. You know you have clay soil when the smallest amount of rain turns your garden into a sticky mass of puddles, which then quickly dries out and cracks appear on the surface. No matter what plants you wish to grow, you must add as much organic matter to your clay soil as possible, to improve the drainage and add nutrients. Adding grit or sharp sand is also a good idea. Digging holes large enough for the plant root ball and adding compost there will only work superficially; the plants will grow well until their roots reach the edge of the compost and then will go into shock because the clay is too hard for the roots to penetrate. Plants growing in clay soil need tough roots. It is always preferable to plant them in the spring, before the ground starts to dry out and shrink, and after the worst of the winter rain has passed.

One of the best trees for clay soil is the Willow (Salix). These fantastic trees are so easy to grow, you can plant the withies upside down in the soil and they will still produce roots and shoots in the appropriate places! There are many varieties of Salix available, with coloured stems and different catkins, but great choices for clay soil are Salix x sepulcralis and Salix babylonia "Tortuosa" or Dragon's Claw Willow with curling and twisted branches.

Plants that would naturally grow on the margins of ponds and lakes are well suited to gardens with clay soil as long as they are not allowed to completely dry out during the summer. Ferns such as Onoclea sensibilis known as the Sensitive Fern will tolerate clay soil. These have arching triangular fronds that turn a yellow colour during the autumn.

Water meadow plants are also a great choice. Perennials are the best choice so that plants can be left to settle and establish themselves over several seasons. Aruncus dioicus (Goat's Beard) is an unusual plant with large pointed leaves, that produces plumes of creamy-white flowers in late summer. For spring interest, Darmera peltat (Umbrella Plant) has clusters of pale pink flowers on tall stems that appear in spring, before the foliage emerges underneath.

Iris love wet clay soil. These striking and exotic-looking plants are a great addition to any garden, but if your soil is predominantly clay you can really go to town with a range of varieties. Their flowers range from yellows to orange, and pinks through purple to vivid blues. If your soil is very heavy clay, why not consider going with nature and turning it into a pond instead? Then you can take advantage of other water plants that tolerate clay conditions such as Ranunculus lingua, a marginal member of the Buttercup family with glossy dark foliage and bright yellow flowers, or Ponterderia cordata (Pickerel Weed) which carries dense spikes of clear blue flowers above lance-shaped leaves.

Whatever plants you choose, clay soil need not be the end of your gardening adventure.

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