Ask-a-Dave's-Gardener: Lonicera sempervirens in clay soil?, 2 by ViburnumValley

ViburnumValley wrote:
I\'d use the top soil from the yard, and feel free to top-dress the planted area with compost or other organic matter. The best way to gradually convert thicker clays into more loamy \"garden soil\" is through addition of composted organic matter. The soil organisms do all the rest of the work (worms, etc.) in working things around for such permanent plants.

I would say different for vegetable gardens, containers, or other intensely managed sites. This is not that - as far as you\'ve mentioned. Your Red Honeysuckle (like a large shrub, or a tree) needs to live in the greater soil volume that exists, so you shouldn\'t create a really sharp break in that soil volume. Adding the organic matter will encourage all the soil fauna to work with you to better the environment for all the things living there.

One of my Red Honeysuckle blooming today...