Evergreens for Clay Soil? - Ask Extension
Hi!
I just bought a house, it is about 1500' from the grand river and has heavy, clay soil. I live on a main road and would like some trees to pla...
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Evergreens for Clay Soil? #872717
Asked June 11, 2024, 9:48 PM EDT
Hi!
I just bought a house, it is about 1500' from the grand river and has heavy, clay soil. I live on a main road and would like some trees to plant near the road to give me a privacy and morning sun screen. Ideally, I'd like evergreens so it works all season, but I am open to other ideas if needed. Right now there is a (what looks like) large northern cedar there, though it doesn't look like its thriving, and four mostly dead pines (possibly spruces? I am not sure).
Do you have any trees that you would recommend under these not-so-ideal conditions? I am in zone 6a.
Thanks!
Ottawa County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
My first choice for that spot would be Green Giant Arborvitae, IF you are okay with them planted closer to the house rather than closer to the road, due to their intolerance to salt spray. You could also benefit from a seasonal burlap shield (Set well away from the foliage of the trees) between the trees and the road. These trees would be tolerant of more moist conditions, clay soil, etc, and are very fast growing and disease resistant. Here is more information about this tree:
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/thuja-green-giant/#:~:text=It%20does%20not%20tolerate%20salt,%2C%20dense%20columnar%2Dpyramidal%20habit.
If you do not want to plant closer to the house, I have a list of trees that are more salt tolerant. You would need to look at the needs of each type of tree to see how it matches up to your site conditions.
https://barron.extension.wisc.edu/files/2023/02/Winter-Salt-Injury-and-Salt-Tolerant-Landscape-Plants.pdf
I would stay away from Jack pine, Austrian pine and Colorado Blue Spruce. Juniper or red cedar might be the best choices in this case.
The trees that are there now would need to be removed- they have a fungal needle cast disease that is not easily treated. (probably Colorado blue spruce).
I hope this is helpful.
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
Ruth
My first choice for that spot would be Green Giant Arborvitae, IF you are okay with them planted closer to the house rather than closer to the road, due to their intolerance to salt spray. You could also benefit from a seasonal burlap shield (Set well away from the foliage of the trees) between the trees and the road. These trees would be tolerant of more moist conditions, clay soil, etc, and are very fast growing and disease resistant. Here is more information about this tree:
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/thuja-green-giant/#:~:text=It%20does%20not%20tolerate%20salt,%2C%20dense%20columnar%2Dpyramidal%20habit.
If you do not want to plant closer to the house, I have a list of trees that are more salt tolerant. You would need to look at the needs of each type of tree to see how it matches up to your site conditions.
https://barron.extension.wisc.edu/files/2023/02/Winter-Salt-Injury-and-Salt-Tolerant-Landscape-Plants.pdf
I would stay away from Jack pine, Austrian pine and Colorado Blue Spruce. Juniper or red cedar might be the best choices in this case.
The trees that are there now would need to be removed- they have a fungal needle cast disease that is not easily treated. (probably Colorado blue spruce).
I hope this is helpful.
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
Ruth
