What is a Clayton's Swale?

Sometimes the best garden ideas don’t need to be complicated.

I recently visited Peter’s place for a garden consultation, and while we were looking at one of his fruit trees growing on a slope, we decided to make what we're calling a Clayton’s Swale. A swale you have when you're not having a swale.

It’s basically a little mini swale — about three metres long, running level on contour either side of the tree. The idea is simple: instead of letting rainwater race straight down the hill, we slow it down, catch it and give it time to soak into the soil where the tree can actually use it.

We added some good compost and soil, planted support species like comfrey, nasturtiums and nitrogen-fixing plants, gave everything a good drink, and covered the whole area with a nice thick layer of wood chips.

Over time, the tree’s roots should begin exploring that beautiful moist, nutrient-rich soil along the berm.

This wasn’t really a planned video. It just happened while I was doing Peter’s consultation — which I think makes it even better. A simple little idea that could make a big difference to a fruit tree growing on a slope.

Slow the water. Spread it. Sink it. And let the garden do the rest.