AMENDING CLAY SOIL

Source: Organic Gardening Vol 59:5 (Pgs. 54 & 63)

Clay soil compacts and clumps, choking out
successful plant growth.

While some good nutrients can come from clay soil, amending it to make it more “plant and garden” friendly is highly recommended.

Dried clay soil cracks and crumbles easily.

Clay is a minuscule mineral and too high of content in your soil can wreak havoc on gardens.  Clay tends to be a flat particle that compacts and hardens very easily.  It also restricts most oxygen, nutrients and moisture throughout plant roots, thus choking out growth. Compost is great for amendments of soil.  It is important not to walk on clay soil when wet or to overwork it because it only serves to compact it more. Instead, spread some straw, organic mulch, rice hulls, leaves or “Perlite” on top and trowel or shovel it into the soil.  

Add amendment mixture such as
Gromulch to fix  compact soil content.

Putting these ingredients into clay soil gives air and room, making it loosen.  Kellogg’s Gromulch is also a great pre-mixed soil amendment. While small gravel rocks may help provide air and space, avoid too much of this remedy as it can take over the soil space. Once the soil amends, the gravel will take over with a new set of growing problems, so it’s best to amend with composting materials and wait (usually a few weeks). Do water a little bit, but preparing clay or compact soil will ensure the money you dish out for new planting will not be thrown away, but yield successful garden growth.