10 of the best plants that can thrive in poor-quality soil
Many homeowners find themselves limited by the soil that's already present on their land, which can prevent them from being able to grow the plants they yearn for.
However, there are actually plenty of plants that grow nicely in poor quality soil, look, smell and feel great, and are perfect for a UK climate.
To help you out, home and garden experts at Nth Degree have detailed a number of plants that would be perfect for poor-quality soil.
Top 10 plants that can thrive in poor-quality soil
Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan)
Rudbeckia hirta, commonly known as Black-eyed Susan, is a plant suitable for dry, low-fertility soils.
Its nickname comes from its bold, bright orange and yellow petals and deep brown centres, which can give a pop of colour to your garden.
Echinacea (Coneflower)
Echinaceas, or coneflowers, are large, daisy-like flowers which are great at tolerating dry soil.
The plant helps to encourage biodiversity in your garden and can have pink, white, red or orange petals.
It is noted to make sure coneflowers get enough sun to help them thrive.
Festuca glauca (Blue Fescue)
Blue Fescue is an ornamental grass with "vibrant ice-blue leaves" which is able to tolerate drought and prefers lean soil.
Sedum (Stonecrop)
Stonecrop is another drought-resistant plant that is a "sun-loving succulent-leaved perennial".
Nth Degree adds: "Poor soils are preferable, as rich soils will encourage soft, leafy stems liable to fall over."
Artemisia
Aretmisia has "fragrant, icy green foliage", which prefers drier and chalkier soil to be planted in.
Heavy and poorly-drained soil is one to avoid for this plant, as it can cause it to die back.
Lavender
Lavender is a pleasant-smelling plant which can be a colourful addition to your garden if it gets enough sun.
Lavender is a plant that's great for attracting bees (Image: Getty Images)
Nth Degree adds: "Lavender HATES wet soil and doesn't like to be watered often, making it a good candidate for poor-quality soil."
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Russian Sage looks a little bit like lavender from afar with its spiking purple flowers, and also attracts bees like its counterpart.
Additionally, it is strong enough to handle tough planting conditions and dry, chalky soil.
Verbena rigida (Slender Vervain)
Slender Vervain has won the Plants for Pollinators award from the RHS in the past, with it being a magnet for bees and butterflies.
Slender Vervain prefers a dry and sunny spot to flower (Image: Getty Images)
It prefers a dry and sunny spot to flower, and it is great for edging paths where you've got poor-quality soil.
Helianthemum nummularium (Rock Rose)
Found mainly in the south and east of Scotland, Rock Rose grows perennially in chalk and limestone-rich cliffs and banks.
Recommended reading:
It can make a great addition to rockeries and walled gardens where you might have lower-quality soil.
Stachys byzantina (Lamb's Ear)
Lamb's Ear has "velvety, silver-tinged foliage" which can add "an inimitable texture to any planting scheme".
It's also perfect for gravelly soil or dry border planting as it's drought-tolerant.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
8 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Japanese Knotweed in 'super growth' across UK expert warns
Rain has returned to the UK recently after a prolonged dry spell, resulting in a combination of warm soil and wet weather. These conditions can result in "growth spurts" for the invasive plant which can cause a plethora of problems for homeowners, Sold property expert Terry Fisher warned. What is Japanese knotweed? Mr Fisher said: 'We've been basking in the glorious sunshine, but now the rain has made an epic return. 'This combination of wet and warm creates the ideal conditions for Japanese knotweed to thrive and even go into a super growth. "Meaning homeowners might unearth a beast in their gardens this spring. 'The invasive plant is a nightmare - it's relentlessly durable, fast-growing and can cause damage to nearby structures.' What does Japanese Knotweed look like? Japanese Knotweed is described as "a persistent, clump-forming herbaceous perennial" by The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Property expert at Saga's home insurance, Anna Thunstrom, added: "Keep an eye out for its characteristic shield or shovel-shaped leaves, along with clusters of creamy white flowers." Poisonous plants found in the UK How to remove Japanese knotweed Japanese knotweed, which was introduced to the UK as an ornamental plant in the nineteenth century, can only be removed with costly specialist treatment. Mr Fisher said: 'Avoid attempting a DIY removal as you could accidentally spread it further. "It requires a multi-pronged approach, often involving herbicides and potentially excavation, depending on the extent of the infestation. "This is all best left to the professionals." Removing Japanese Knotweed from your property can be "costly", the Sold property expert added, especially if you have to pay for repairs for your home, or your neighbours. Removing Japanese knotweed can be a "costly" process. (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) Mr Fisher continued: "Your neighbours can seek compensation if it breaches onto their land, and you can be fined if it starts to grow in the wild.' The plant can also spread onto your property from neighbouring land as it tends to grow at an "alarming rate". Mr Fisher said: 'Japanese knotweed can reach two metres in height within weeks, and if it has encroached from neighbouring land, you have the right to pursue legal action against the landowner for compensation, covering both damages and removal costs. 'Whatever the case, homeowners need to act quickly if any signs of Japanese knotweed appear.' The legalities to be aware of around Japanese knotweed when selling a property When selling a home, vendors are legally required to disclose if a property is, or ever has been, affected by Japanese knotweed. Surveyors also have a legal obligation to look for it as part of their report. RECOMMENDED READING: Mr Fisher added: 'If you're buying a house and a survey flags that a property has Japanese knotweed, you could negotiate the price or ensure the seller treats the plant before the sale goes through,' Terry added. 'After that, it's your job to keep an eye on your garden for any signs of the plant returning. It tends to die back in Autumn but starts to grow again in spring. 'Some homeowners don't know about the existence of the invasive plant until they find it in their garden. In which case, it could be that a surveyor was negligent in their duties, or you could have a case for misrepresentation.'
South Wales Argus
8 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
10 of the best plants that can thrive in poor-quality soil
Many homeowners find themselves limited by the soil that's already present on their land, which can prevent them from being able to grow the plants they yearn for. However, there are actually plenty of plants that grow nicely in poor quality soil, look, smell and feel great, and are perfect for a UK climate. To help you out, home and garden experts at Nth Degree have detailed a number of plants that would be perfect for poor-quality soil. Top 10 plants that can thrive in poor-quality soil Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan) Rudbeckia hirta, commonly known as Black-eyed Susan, is a plant suitable for dry, low-fertility soils. Its nickname comes from its bold, bright orange and yellow petals and deep brown centres, which can give a pop of colour to your garden. Echinacea (Coneflower) Echinaceas, or coneflowers, are large, daisy-like flowers which are great at tolerating dry soil. The plant helps to encourage biodiversity in your garden and can have pink, white, red or orange petals. It is noted to make sure coneflowers get enough sun to help them thrive. Festuca glauca (Blue Fescue) Blue Fescue is an ornamental grass with "vibrant ice-blue leaves" which is able to tolerate drought and prefers lean soil. Sedum (Stonecrop) Stonecrop is another drought-resistant plant that is a "sun-loving succulent-leaved perennial". Nth Degree adds: "Poor soils are preferable, as rich soils will encourage soft, leafy stems liable to fall over." Artemisia Aretmisia has "fragrant, icy green foliage", which prefers drier and chalkier soil to be planted in. Heavy and poorly-drained soil is one to avoid for this plant, as it can cause it to die back. Lavender Lavender is a pleasant-smelling plant which can be a colourful addition to your garden if it gets enough sun. Lavender is a plant that's great for attracting bees (Image: Getty Images) Nth Degree adds: "Lavender HATES wet soil and doesn't like to be watered often, making it a good candidate for poor-quality soil." Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage) Russian Sage looks a little bit like lavender from afar with its spiking purple flowers, and also attracts bees like its counterpart. Additionally, it is strong enough to handle tough planting conditions and dry, chalky soil. Verbena rigida (Slender Vervain) Slender Vervain has won the Plants for Pollinators award from the RHS in the past, with it being a magnet for bees and butterflies. Slender Vervain prefers a dry and sunny spot to flower (Image: Getty Images) It prefers a dry and sunny spot to flower, and it is great for edging paths where you've got poor-quality soil. Helianthemum nummularium (Rock Rose) Found mainly in the south and east of Scotland, Rock Rose grows perennially in chalk and limestone-rich cliffs and banks. Recommended reading: It can make a great addition to rockeries and walled gardens where you might have lower-quality soil. Stachys byzantina (Lamb's Ear) Lamb's Ear has "velvety, silver-tinged foliage" which can add "an inimitable texture to any planting scheme". It's also perfect for gravelly soil or dry border planting as it's drought-tolerant.
Wales Online
8 hours ago
- Wales Online
Ferries cancelled from Holyhead to Dublin amid bad weather
Ferries cancelled from Holyhead to Dublin amid bad weather Adverse weather is causing disruption to sailings between Wales and Ireland Holyhead to Dublin sailings have been cancelled by Irish Ferries (Image: Getty Images ) Ferries are being cancelled from Holyhead to Dublin due to adverse weather. Irish Ferries has told its passengers of disruption to services on Monday. Its 10.45am and 4.50pm sailings have been cancelled. Sailings are also being cancelled in the opposite direction from Dublin to Holyhead, including the scheduled 7.35am and 1.55pm departures. Its website reads: "Irish Ferries regrets to advise that the 10.45am Holyhead to Dublin Dublin Swift sailing on June 23 is cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. If you wish, you can be accommodated on our 7am or 1.05pm sailings instead. Please check in at least 30 minutes prior to the sailing departure time. "If you are happy to sail on the above alternative sailing(s), there is no need to contact us. However if you would like to contact us, please see the following information that will help you." Concerning the later cancellation, its website adds: "Irish Ferries regrets to advise that the 4.50pm Holyhead to Dublin, Dublin Swift sailing on June 23 has now been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. "Car passengers can be accommodated on our 1.05pm or 7.30pm cruise ferry sailings instead. "Foot passenger can be accommodated on our earlier 1.05pm or later 1.30am Ulysses sailing instead. "Please check in at least 30 minutes prior to the sailing departure time." Article continues below If you are affected, you can e-mail info@ or call 03717 300 400 / 0044 3717 300 400.
