Clay soil can be difficult to work with.
Clay soil can be difficult if not impossible for the casual gardener to work with. Clay soil is very fertile but needs to be loosened up a bit to allow tender roots to work their way through the soil to encourage plant growth.
Organic Compost
Organic compost can be added to clay to loosen the texture or tilth of the soil. Tilth is the ease of tilling, root penetrability and the ability of seeds to sprout according to finegardening.com. Compost can be purchased or developed at home using old vegetables, grass clippings, shredded newspaper and powdered lime to help the items decompose.
Cover Cropping
Cover cropping is another stragegy for adding compost to your soil. After your gardening has finished for the season, add a cover crop such as grass to the area. In the late fall or spring, till or turn under this crop to add nutrients and help loosen the composition of the clay.
Manure
Manure is a good option to add to clay. Choose a commercial product that has already been treated for weeds. Cow manure will also add nutrients so less fertilizer is needed for crops.
Pelletized Gypsum
Nutrosoft or pelletized gypsum softens clay and hard soil types, allowing better water penetration. This product adds calcium and sulfur to the soil and helps repair ice-melting salt damage, according to mineralprocess.com.
Considerations
Finegardening.com advises not working in clay when it is too wet as it will break into clods and can stick to and damage a rototiller.
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