Chalky soil can be challenging for a number of reasons. It is often shallow, stony and free-draining. As chalky soils are often alkaline, it makes it hard for plants to access some essential nutrients, which can result in yellow leaves due to chlorosis. In summer, chalk soils can also become extremly dry.
There are benefits to having chalky soil. In spring, it often warms up faster for earlier planting. It can be dug up much sooner after wet weather, due to its free-draining nature. There are a range of plants that prefer to be planted in chalky soil, including many Mediterranean and prairie plants.
How to Know if You Have Chalky Soil?
Very chalky soil may contain lumps of white chalky stones, and often flints. If you have a pH testing kit, and you soil is above pH 7 it is chalk.
Another way to test is to mix some of your soil with a jar of vinegar, and if it froths then it is alkaline.
Our Top Tips for Gardening on Light Chalky Soil
- Smaller plants are easier to establish than more mature plants.
- Dig in plenty of organic matter and add mulches of organic matter yearly, to conserve moisture.
- Avoid using spent mushroom compost which is also alkaline.
- Apply slow release fertilisers in spring.
- You can’t turn alkaline soil into neutral or acid soil by applying ericaceous compost.
- If you like acid loving plants like rhododendrons or camellias, buy compact varieties and grow them in containers with ericaceous compost.
- On very shallow soil you may need to build up raised beds and import topsoil.
Our Top Plants for Chalk Soils
Trees: Acer campestre, Aesculus, Arbutus unedo, Carpinus, Cercis siliquastrum, Chamaecyparis, Corylus, Cotoneaster, Crataegus, Fagus sylvatica, Ginkgo, Ilex aquifolium, Juniperus, Malus, Pinus mugo, Pinus nigra, Prunus, Pyrus, Quercus robar, Sambucus, Sorbus aria, Sorbus intermedia, Syringa, Taxus, Thuja
Bulbs, Corms and Rhizomes: Allium, Crocosmia, Cyclamen, Iris, Liatris, Narcissi
Shrubs: Aucuba, Berberis, Brachyglottis, Buddleja, Buxus, Ceanothus, Ceratostigma, Choisya, Cistus, Cotoneaster, Cytisus, Deutzia, Euonymus, Forsythia, Fuchsia, Hebe, Hibiscus, Hypericum, Laurus nobilis, Lavatera, Lavandula, Ligustrum, Lonicera nitida, Mahonia, Potentilla, Pyracantha, Ribes, Rosmarinus, Sambucus, Santolina, Sarcococca, Spiraea, Syringa, Tamarix, Teucrium fruticans
Climbers: Actinidia, Akebia, Clematis, Hedera, Jasminum, Lonicera periclymenum, Parthenocissus, Passiflora caerulea, Solanum, Trachelospermum, Vitis
Grasses: Briza, Carex, Cortaderia, Festuca, Hakonechloa, Miscanthus, Panicum, Pennisetum, Sesleria, Stipa tenuissima
Perennials and Alpines: Acanthus, Achillea, Actea, Agapanthus, Agastache, Alcea, Alstroemeria, Anemone, Anthemis, Aquilegia, Armeria, Artemesia, Aster, Astilbe, Bergenia, Campanula, Centranthus, Centaurea, Convallaria majalis, Coreopsis, Crocosmia, Delphinium, Dianthus, Digitalis, Echinacea, Echinops, Eryngium, Erysimum, Euphorbia, Gaura, Geranium, Geum, Helenium, Hellebore, Hemerocallis, Heuchera, Hosta, Kniphofia, Leucanthemum, Lychnis, Malva, Monarda, Nepeta, Origanum, Penstemon, Paeonia, Papaver, Penstemon, Perovskia, Persicaria, Phlomis, Polemonium, Potentilla, Pulsatilla, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Scabious, Sedum, Silene, Verbascum, Verbena, Veronica
Continue your Gardening Journey
Need a little extra advice? Visit your local Tates of Sussex Garden Centre today, where our friendly knowledgeable, team will be happy to help you choose the right plants and offer expert guidance.
