Turning Clay Into Good Soil?

[John Gusmano]

Well, I’ve been racking my brain about how to turn my mostly clay dirt that I got for free into suitable garden soil. I’m actually fairly confident in turning this stuff into good soil. I’m going to be adding quite a bit of humus, compost, topsoil, plenty of fertilizer, and even some gypsum salt to promote healthy growing.

If I can get veggies to grow in this mixture I should get a “Green Thumb Award”! I’m determined to get this to work. The good news is, the dirt isn’t a total clay mess, it still has some workability to it, which is good. I even did a “clay test” by taking water and rubbing it between my fingers to see how much it compacts, the result “not too bad”. I am thinking about putting some mulch around my plants once they are planted in the beds to aid the roots along.

If anyone has experience in planting in mostly clay soil, let me know. I know that clay tends to hold on to nutrients, so that’s a plus. Also, I won’t be walking on it or anything of that nature since it is in a raised bed.

Another thing I have thought of is once this season is at it’s end, I plan on putting on a “cover crop” to affix more nitrogen into the soil over the long winter….

[Brad H.]

I would much rather have a heavy soil like clay vs. sand. It holds moisture really well, which means less watering. I would simoly fertilize it with some manure, till it in good, and plant away.

[histopicker]

I have had clay soils most of my life. I have done everything imaginable in an attempt to alter the structure of clay to no avail. Clay will suck the life out of you. I have learned some tricks that help. Here is the best tip I can give you. Do not overwork clay soils. If you are making beds; put a layer of leaves or other debris down and then cover with your soil. Use more of a permiculture method of gardening with clay soil and never compact it. Finally; do not let the clay dry out totally. This allows it to form those little bricks that are not workable and can damage the stems of plants.

Clay is useable but offers the gardener more challenges, the rewards are still there!

[Deleted]

Cow poop.
I've got the worst clay in the world here, but after 3 years of tilling in cow poop in the fall, I've got some good dirt finally.

[bk]

Grew up with a clay garden patch. As Brad said, plenty of manure kept thing growing well.  Dad would disk in all the leaves / grass clippings / etc that he could find - and once the word was out folks always dropped off their grass and leaves.  Turned into a pretty fine garden patch after a few years.  Build up that humus.  As histopicker stressed, don't compact it and don't overwork it and you'll do just fine.   Enjoy the adventure.