Don’t make hellebores too happy

Q: I am new to red clay and what can be planted directly, with no amendments or with amendments. I have two hellebores in pots. I’d like to find the perfect place to plant these in the ground in my garden. Before I do, what, if anything, should I do to amend the red clay soil? — Gail Vaught, Lavonia

A: Although it seems counterintuitive to put a plant into clay soil when you could easily prepare an area of rich soil for it, the best thing for most perennial plants is to be planted in native soil. The caveat is that the soil needs to be well broken up. In this way, the plant’s roots become comfortable growing in clay, and they won’t have a problem growing through the sides of your planting hole and into the native soil around it. Honestly, the main drawback of clay soil is the lack of pore space where the fine feeder roots of a plant can find moisture and nutrients. I will admit that sometimes I add some expanded slate (Permatill, Stalite) to my flower beds. The slate provides permanent internal pore space, as well as holding the clay particles apart enough to provide external pore space. One thing to avoid is planting perennials and shrubs into a spot that has been over-amended with compost and manure. In this case, the plant roots will luxuriate in the rich bed and will refuse to explore as they should. Also, excess organic matter holds water and causes root rot.

Q: I just read your article about controlling stiltgrass. Dang, Walter, you no longer work for Extension! You can name some commercial products instead of listing the chemicals. Who in heck knows how to pronounce them? I just need to know more about how to control the patches of stiltgrass in my yard and I don’t want to go to college to find out! — Paulding County gardener