I plan to rehabilitate some really bad land i have. I planted some autumn berries there and next im planting Indian Plum, Oso Berry (Oemleria cerasiformis)
"Native from the west coast of British Columbia throughout most of California. Found in the wild in either relatively highly forested areas in part or high shade or north slopes in fairly moist partial shade, sandy topsoil, clay subsoil. Oso Berry is an attractive deciduous shrub to small tree, usually between 10-20 feet tall. Oso berry flowers at the same time as Ribes species(very early spring) and make a good mix with them. Flowers are like many natives, usually males on one plant and females on others, except on good years then you will find both on the same plant. (Redundancy in native systems is common.) Crushed foliage smells like a green watermelon. The inch (1cm) fruits don’t have much meat on them, but the trees can produce heavy crops, and the flavor is special (a mix of cherry, blueberry, olive, and cucumber). A great choice for riparian zones and shade, this shrub is an excellent wildlife plant. Waxwings and robins eat the fruit, and Anna’s hummingbirds use the nectar. Allowed to grow into a thicket, Indian Plum provides cover and nesting sites. It is a valuable restoration plant. Use it along stream banks, in a woodland. Usually suckering, especially in moist sites, and suckers can be removed to control spread. Plants can be rejuvenated by cutting out the oldest stems to the ground or cutting all stems to the ground.
That small piece of property is really bad land. It is clay , poor drainage, etc… The worst type of land. I built up the 1/4 acre ground with a foot of compost. It barely grows anything now but i managed to get 3 autumn olives growing there. Water used to stand there and it is slightly better than that now.
Could you start planting cover crops this spring and fall to rehab it? And, maybe some root vegetables and deeper rooted native bushes to begin breaking up compacted clay?
The Indian Plum is very common around here and stands out as the earliest of the native species to flower in the spring.
All the creeks that dump out of the mountains into the farmlands will be riddled with Indian Plum.
We use it in with many other native species for stream re habitation and riparian habitat projects.
One thing about the IP though is that wherever you find it growing naturally it will always be a well drained site. Its one of those plants that likes moisture but cant sit in it. Whenever i dig one up, the soil is always sandy.
The description suggests it will not adapt well to a heavy clay soil in full sun. If it flourishes there you will have completely disproven the description of where it thrives.
This would be a well drained topsoil without strong sun. Why not stick with plains plants or traditional soil busters like crown vetch that send roots deep and add N. .
I would like to try some and give them plenty of tlc. Let’s see what happens. It is an experiment. It is struggling to grow anything including autumn olives. Managing all my land as productive land has always been my greatest challenge. This is not the first part of my land that needs complete rehabilitation.
I wonder, have you tried Red Osier Dogwood, also called Red Twig Dogwood? It has been very successful for me in transitional areas between actual standing water and forest areas. Very attractive and super easy from just cuttings into the ground.
what about Alfalfa and clover for nitrogen fixing and root build up. Dandiion and comfry for taproots to penetrate the clay and Chicory and sunflowers to leave behind inulin roots systems to feed microbes.
Butterfly Bush for sure does good in the worst soils.
I have some Honeyberries and Blueberries right along a ditch that stays constantly boggy in a low part of one of my orchards. Both are doing well.
I have an area that is heavy moist clay that a tiller cannot get thru. I have it chock full of blackberries and black raspberries. I plan on adding some pawpaws and testing the floodplain plant thought process.
butterfly bush is invasive as well (at least by me, not , the seeds are carried over wind. Regular old common milkweed can live in this type of soil, is edible (though i find it kinda meh) and hosts monarchs. Spreads aggressively which is nice for not having to plant too too much, and it wouldnt compete too hard against any plants you actually want to plant eventually.
Looks like it would be less invasive in kansas (the teal oners are where its escaped cultivation, see near me its everywhere)
Are you in a red or gray clay zone? Red clays are usually a sign of iron and other useful trace elements. Also you might try tilling in some of the organic cover as a part of your trial and give clover varieties a chance to take hold. Drainage is probably the most difficult challenge to solve without trying some mounding methods. You might consider a windrowing strip where you bring the clay to the surface and till it into the organic material to create better drainage for plants that require better drainage. Just some thoughts
Swamp milkweed is one that i forgot that i have in that soggy clay bottom. I also have some goldenrod, asters, bee balms, brown eyed susans. Most all are from things i found around my area by roadsides or ditches. I found a haven of New York asters in Ohio but not much in my area so i brought them here. Im not too hung up on ‘invasives’ as i can clealy see that pollinators, birds and butterflies obviously enjoy them. Same goes with Mimosa which does extremely well in poor wet soil. My Mimosas bring hummingbirds in like crazy and they are very welcome here. My crown and hairy vetch are probably invasive also.. but they are also welcome here…as my bees love them.
