Soil Amending

Inkberry holly

As a rule, yews (Taxus spp.), Japanese hollies (Ilex crenata), azaleas (Rhododendron spp.), blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), and roses (Rosa spp.) are common examples of landscape plants that fail in poorly drained soils.

Holly cultivars like ‘Hoogendorn’  and ‘Soft Touch’  fair better in clay soils that most other Japanese hollies in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). A better alternative is to substitute inkberry holly (Ilex glabra) in any planting bed where soil quality is suspect. A number of perennial plants die or are setback after spending their winter in waterlogged soils.

You can improve soil drainage by adding generous amounts of organic matter and coarse gravel such as sand, pea gravel, and perlite. It is difficult to estimate the exact amount to incorporate

Constructing and planting in raised bed is another option.