For best results, till your soil when it is moist and warm.
Clay soil is made up of fine particles with a tight and bonded structure. This structure causes it to hold onto both water and nutrients and doesn't allow in air. Tight clay soils can be very tough to dig. Long-term loosening of your clay soil calls for large amounts of organic material. Adding compost provides organic matter that loosens soil, increases the soil's ability to absorb water, and allows plant roots to penetrate the soil more easily. Soil amendments should be added before you plant so that they can be incorporated deeply into the soil. However, compost can be surface-applied to not disturb your lawn.
Instructions
1. Buy enough compost to spread around 2 inches per thousand square yard of lawn. While you might consider starting your own compost pile, it will take a while to produce usable compost, so buying is your best option for immediate application.
2. Spread a layer of compost 2 inches deep over your garden or lawn. Leave it there for a week or two, to let it penetrate. If you've already got plants growing or grass in place, leave the compost to do its work without tilling it in.
3. Divide your garden or lawn up into rows and use a shovel to till each row, working the compost into the soil. Dig about 6 or 8 inches, turning the soil and moving on. Don't go back over areas you've already done. Over-tilling can be harmful to your soil.
4. Rake your soil down, smoothing it out and flattening it.
5. Repeat the composting in the spring and the fall, tilling if you're able. It may take a couple of growing seasons to see real progress, but keep at it.
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