Cornus or viburnum Tinis for tricky spot?

[kitkatkat]

I’ve just bought a viburnum intended for the bottom of my garden. It’s a tricky corner with poor soil (stony clay) underneath a large mature ash tree - dry and shady in the summer but with some evening sun. Right now the whole garden is soaking wet though - I have just dug a planting hole which filled with at least 4 inches of water - it looks like I have dug a well. The label on the viburnum says ‘any soil that isn’t waterlogged ‘. Shall I stick it in and hope for the best? I do have a cornus in a pot that could go there instead but I don’t know if that will be too dry in summer. Any ideas?

Cornus will grow almost anywhere but most plants will struggle under a mature Ash tree as it will be extremely dry in summer...

Hmm thanks I think you are right - it’s nearly at the edge of the canopy and there is a ceanothus nearby that is managing ok. I might stick the cornus in and see what happens, and find somewhere else for the viburnum.