Clay soil can be amended so that plants can flourish.
Clay soil is heavy, compacts and doesn't drain easily -- its structure is not conducive to successful planting and growing. Although clay soil, on it's own, can never make for a healthy garden, you can improve the soil's consistency by turning it over and adding amendments. You may notice an immediate improvement, but patience is key with clay soils since it may take several seasons of tilling and amending to notice a drastic improvement.
Instructions
1. Push the tines of a spading fork or rototiller into the soil to loosen and aerate the clay soil. If using a spading fork, work in rows and break up the soil down to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. If using a rototiller, again work in rows, but let the tiller do the work for you. Simply place the tines in the soil and start the tiller. Grip the tiller tightly while it works into the soil down to about 6 to 8 inches. Move forward as the tiller completes one section, then continue on to the next section.
2. Sift through the soil by hand and pull out any weeds or rocks.
3. Shovel about 1/4 cup dry soil samples from your garden -- take samples from four different areas -- into a bucket and mix them together. Perform a pH test on the samples. Either purchase a soil test from a garden center or contact your nearest extension office -- it often provides soil testing for a small fee. Follow the specific directions provided with the soil test. Garden center soil tests usually only determine the pH, while an extension office will provide an extensive report that advises on amendments needed to alter pH and required fertilizer and trace minerals.
4. Shovel the specified amendments on top of the soil. You may need to use lime if the pH is too low or sulfur if the pH is too high. Follow the specific directions provided with the product to determine how much to use. Till the amendments into the soil, working to the same depth of 6 to 8 inches to fully incorporate the amendments into the soil.
5. Shovel at least 2 to 3 inches of compost onto the top of the soil. All clay soils benefit from the addition of compost -- it increases the nutrient level and helps to loosen the soil. Till the compost into the soil working down to a depth of 6 to 8 inches.
6. Push a rake across the top of the soil to make the area level after tilling.
7. Plant a cover crop at the end of the gardening season. Cover crop choices vary by region. The National Gardening Association recommends using winter wheat and winter rye in the northern states and crimson clover and oats in warmer states. In the spring, till the crop into the soil before amending and planting.
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