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To: WesternMA

Not much gardening in MA”

I just sold my house in RI last week and had to give up my beautiful gardens that I had worked on for 30 years. I moved to the lower south west corner of Illinois. Anyone know which plants do well here. It has been raining almost every day so I can’t get started yet but I do know that the soil is very clay like. Will probably opt for planting in pots this year.


37 posted on 05/29/2009 5:46:57 AM PDT by heylady
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To: heylady

Because you don’t know what you’re dealing with, starting with plants in pots sounds like a good idea...that’s how I started. Perhaps a good idea would be to spend the summer building up a good compost pile that will help with that clay soil. Ever hear of “lasagna beds”? Having made several, I heartily recommend them.


45 posted on 05/29/2009 6:01:04 AM PDT by WesternMA
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To: heylady
Ohio has the same clay problem ... and if my geology and glacierization memory is correct you are probably on the alkaline side of pH as well.

Compost everything and fill all your beds. It will take you about 7 years to get over the clayey problem, but oh my ... how wonderful it is to be able to dig a hole with bare hands.

Happy gardening

148 posted on 05/29/2009 2:16:37 PM PDT by HiramQuick (work harder ... welfare recipients depend on you!)
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