Do n’t countenance Lucius DuBignon Clay ground keep you from having a beautiful garden . There are many easy ( and organic ! ) ways to amend heavy land .
There ’s no doubt about it ; working in expectant clay dirt is a pain in the back . It stick to your shoes ( andtools ) and can be more challenging thangardening in arenaceous grease . However , despite all the hard work , clay soil has its welfare . Namely , it can host life - give plant nutrients and retain wet well than other territory type . With some soil amendments , you could release your gummy clay into the hoummos - rich , fertile goodness your plants will give thanks you for .
Amending Clay Soil
There ’s a whim that adding sand to laborious the Great Compromiser soil will help lighten up it , but that ’s a myth . In fact , 99 per centum of the time , it turns your ground into cement . Soil treat this way becomes so problematic that dirt ball ca n’t subsist in it .
Instead , reach for organic issue , such ascompost , leaf moulding , and well - rotted manure . Organic matter is thebest mode to ameliorate mud soil : It lightens the soil texture , discourages densification , adds nutrients , improves drain and aeration , moderates soil temperature , and provides pore space , essential to plant growth .
amend your soil takes time and patience but rewards you many times over in the ending . The first step should be to tally as much organic matter as possible and commix it profoundly into your ground . Before you start , have a soil test done . That way , you could integrate caustic lime , phosphorus , or amendment necessary while tilling in the constitutional affair . If you ’re produce a new bed , this will be much easier .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Start the process by using a tillerto undo the existing territory ( if it is a large area ) or a coon ( if it is a more manageable size ) . Next , circulate about 2 inch of compost on top of the tilled dirt and work that in . recapitulate the process two more time . recollect to only work in your clay grime if it is comparatively dry . Working or walk on besotted clay grunge seriously damage the social system you are trying to improve .
work out around exist plants will take more time and caution . Autumn is a expectant time to do this because the weather is generally drier than in the springtime , and the cooler temperatures are more pleasant to work in . you could even make it an annual part ofputting the garden to bed for wintertime .
Spread a few inches of compost over the ground between the plants and use a narrow spade to ferment the compost into the soil . recapitulate that at least once more and plan to make that part of your routine . Always work so that you ’re walk backward and aside from your saucily turned soil .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Over time , even practical software of compost , manure , and other constitutional matter will improve your soil ’s body structure , tilth , and overall health .
One last countersign on gardening in clay soil : pick out plantsnaturally adapted to growing in clay . It ’s always better to work with what you have than to try and alter it wholly . Happily , for those of us that garden with sonorous corpse soil , there is an abundance ofbeautiful plants to choose from .
More on Organic Matter
Credit: Marty Baldwin
