I would like to know how to amend clay dirt. what about cocoa mulch?

Answer 1

Clay soils can be amended very well by the addition of compost. I'm not familiar with cocoa mulch but if you're talking about a large area, you might have to compare costs between the mulch and compost.

A good compost contains beneficial bacteria and fungi that will help create small aggregates of soil particles thereby loosening up the soil naturally and then eliminating the compaction problems commmonly associated with clay soils. With the addition of compost, it will allow water and nutrients to move more easily through the soil. Compost companies are everywhere and you should be able to find a good deal in acquiring a pickup load if the area you're treating is fairly large.

The drawback to using cocoa mulch is that it doesn't contain any of these beneficial bacteria/fungi, however it does help in adding organic matter to your soil.

You might want to consider using wood shavings/sawdust and applying it to your soil...then rototill it into your soil at the same time you do the compost. The wood shavings/sawdust helps loosen the soil but more importantly, it provides an excellent food source for the beneficial microbes to exist and multiply. The addition of lawn cuttings, leaves and shredded twigs/branches are other great sources of food! Once you get them established, you'll see earthworms....which is an excellent sign that you have a healthy soil.

Another very important natural product you should consider is "Humic Acid". Many farmers are beginning to discover the benefits of this product since it helps break up clay and loosens soil. It should be used with the compost and both can be applied at the same time in the early spring or fall.

Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any other questions about clay soils.

Hope this was of some help to you! GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

Cocoa mulch is an excellent amendment for clay. An alternative that is coming into vogue: Powdered styrofoam....yep, the stuff you see in styrofoam cups that is ground down until it looks like coarse sand. It's tilled into the soil and helps prevent the dense compaction that takes place in clay soils and also helps the soil hold moisture.

Answer 3

i dont know anything about cocoa mulch but i would stay away from styrofoam for obvious reasons...dont we do enough harm to the planet? You could try gypsom. Its pretty good at breaking up clay and its really cheap.

Answer 4

Cocoa mulch would work, but isn't it expensive? The best way to improve clay is to add sand and organic material. The organic material can be anything like tree leaves, grass mowings, etc. I wouldn't add any styrofoam or petroleum based stuff like that.

Answer 5

any mulch is good for breaking down clay, but it is a slow process. Gypsum can be used, but only if the clay reacts to the gypsum, put sm clay in a glass of water one with and one without gypsum, if the clay dissolves (usually overnight) the clay will take to gypsum

Answer 6

I would agree with the answer above. Gypsum binds with the clay on the molecular level to allow water to drain through. It works wonders.

Answer 7

Gypsum softens the clay and helps water perc through.

Answer 8

make up some compost and mix it in...but it will take a long time