Looking for any resources or answers in regards to making a high sand/clay soil ready for a lawn and garden?

Question

I have high sand/clay soil, and would like to plant grass, trees, and shrubs, but am not sure what type of organics to add. I'm also on a pretty tight budget and the most cost effective ways would be most appreciated. Would rototilling in lawn clippings be a good idea? Are there any good websites anyone would recomend?

Answer 1

Read the link below it will tell you a lot

Answer 2

The recognized method for improving clay soil is to add gypsum.
Its not expensive and is permanent. Add up to 3 times (once annually), and dig in. Gypsum works by making the soil allow the passage of air and moisture (improves drainage).

Continue to improve the soil over the years by adding any organic matter you can (manures and leaves, grass). Grass clippings won't hurt but perhaps better to let die down first, green waste takes the nitrogen out of the surrounding matter to break down, making a shortage of nitrogen in the soil. Can easily be fixed with a high nitrogen fertilizer, if you would like to do this though.

There have been a lot of questions regarding clay soil recently, check these through search for questions on the top of the page. Be careful though someone recently chose an answer of just pick certain plants and all your problems will be over. Careful section of plants (ones that don't have to have good drainage), is certainly part of it but clay soils are rich in minerals etc and you can unlock some of these and have a fabulous garden. Check also BBC Gardening and other english sites for good plants for clay soils. (England has some terrible clay soils, and many of their trees etc just love it).

Where I live some soils are clay and some are sandy loam. The local nurseries are always moaning about how you can't grow anything in these suburbs, but they are always recommending high drainage natives that will not tolerate clay. I recently renovated a garden, and used gypsum on planting and seaweed extract for transplant shock and root growth. I planted Magnolias, Golden Elms, Robinias, Berberis etc. I cannot believe the growth in this 'terrible' soil, I should be so 'unlucky' as to have this growth in my sandy loam soil. Their Magnolia grew from 3 ft to 10 ft high and 5 ft wide in 12 months. How unlucky for them!

Don't despair just take it one bed at a time, pick plant material carefully and you will have a lovely garden. Good luck.

Answer 3

Rototilling is not a good idea because it will make the clay particles smaller and that will just make it clump more. Grass clippings are pure nitrogen, not enough other elements to build soil structure. You could spade in lots of compost mixed with topsoil. I'm afraid it's a multi-year process. But if you use raised beds, you can do prerennials and annuals right away.

Answer 4

Go to your local or county USDA agricultural extension...they're everywhere. They will give you a soil sample kit and the results will give you all the answers you need. You will get Ph results, a list of recommendations for amendments to the soil. You will learn your nitrogen, carbon, phosporous needs and what will help increase or decrease these levels. There are experts who will also give you great advise but the soil test will give you all you need to know on how to begin and how to maintain.

Answer 5

If I see you in my backyard pretending to be something, i'll ask you to my mattress room, placed off the lights, come under one cover, just to coach you techniques my watch glows on the hours of darkness.

Answer 6

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