What's the best way to plant in clay soil?

Question

I have red clay soil & it has lots of rocks in it. We tilled it and added sand & cow manure/compost but the ground is still like concrete. We also covered it with the black gardening paper before putting the plants in. I'm just worried the plants are going to die. Any suggestions...previous experience??

Answer 1

hi
clay is bad for plant
keep water and rotten the roots
better to mix potting soil or garden soil and have a rise bed to let the water drain from the plant
been there done that

Answer 2

Use gypsum an topsoil to fill in the holes while planting.this will allow you to keep growing your plants while you get the rest of the soil prepared.Keep adding cow manure an sand when possible.Also cover the area with straw in the winter months an keep it wet.I have been doing this for years and my garden has improved every year.The straw rots an adds the composte you need to your garden.Don't expect a big change in it the first year.Til the straw in an add more it will eventually make the soil more fertile.Add lime at the beginning of planting season an til it in as well.The more the ground is used the more it takes away top soil so its an on going process every year but it will improve.You can also build a composte box to make your own composte.Just add straw an all raw vegetable scraps to it an let nature take its course.Then use it to fill in the holes you plant in.you can still have a garden without having the entire area perfect for planting.Just prepare the soil around the plant until the rest of the area comes along.Good Luck

Answer 3

We used to grow a vegetable garden in clay soil and did all right each year. We used compost material to help things along -- we raised chickens so we had plenty of material to work with. We also rotated our various "crops" and gave the garden a rest every other year. We also kept things watered. I found an interesting article that might offer some insight, especially as you've mentioned you have red clay soil. Hope it helps and I hope you have a successful garden, flower or food!

Answer 4

formerly including ANY lime or different chemical modification on your soil, have a soil try carried out. lots of the time clay soils are intense in alkalinity. including lime will make it extra so. A pH try will inform you in case you want to operate lime to the soil. to assist split clay, you need to upload gypsum to the soil. regrettably, breaking clay calls for digging. the most suitable element to apply is compost tilled into the clay. The organic and organic matter binds to the clay making it extra crumbly and grants pore area. per chance you need to employ a neighbor toddler to rototill the backyard with sturdy compost and gypsum. Or a extra effectual answer, because you're older and do not favor to be bending down as a lot; is to construct raised beds. you are able to upload sturdy soil to the beds and could no longer could bend over as a techniques to weed or harvest your bounty. you are able to make the beds as deep as you want. i'd not cause them to any wider than 3 ft in the course of even with the actuality that. this facilitates you to achieve each thing contained in the technique the mattress.

Answer 5

To make a significant change in your garden soil, an amendment must equal at MINIMUM one-third of the volume of the soil you are amending. For example, to amend a garden to a depth of 1 foot, you need to add one-third of a foot (4 inches) of material.
* 3 to 6 inches of organic material dug in 9 to 18 inches
* Perlite or pumice 5-25% of amendment
* Coarse sand 5-25% of amendment
Two of the best amendments for clay soil are coarse sand and coarse organic matter. Coarse sand is also sometimes called builders' sand. The particles are relatively large, especially when compared to the finer sands used for sandboxes and such. The fine sands may actually make your problem worse. There are lots of types of organic matter available for gardening but not all of them will help improve clay soil. It needs to be coarse. Avoid fine-textured material such as peat moss or the packaged manures. If possible, find a source for a coarse compost or manure. Check with your city to see if they have a compost site for leaves and such.
There are several products called soil conditioners or clay conditioners. Most of them are only practical for small areas.

1) Gypsum often comes up when discussing clay soils. Gypsum is a mineral product similar to lime. Lime is calcium carbonate and gypsum is calcium sulfate. Billed as an amendment that will help improve soil drainage. Gypsum has been used effectively in areas where the soil is very salty. The sulfate part of gypsum will also help to slightly acidify the soil.

2) Humic Acid will also help the improve soil structure, increase moisture availability to the roots and improve general plant health and vigor. Humic acid causes the clay particles to stand on end, allowing water penetration.

3) Perlite or pumice 5-25% of amendment will help create porosity but is expensive for more than the smallest area.

Answer 6

You must live in the south...LOL...I have dealt with this for several years now. If you have done it all just keep tilling the ground each season and it will soon bleand very well. I used a lot of potting soil on mine and it only took 2 seasons to blend and now I raise all sorts of flowers and vegetables in it. Good Luck.....Oh you may start by buying plants that take the clay soil well... snapdragons and marigolds are good ons for lots of color.

Answer 7

dont worry about adding sand, clay is sand that has no air or water available to soften the particles. Therefore it binds up in layers. Pure compost, that is comost that has already composted for over 12 months is what you need. otherwise you will have no luck. till down six inches, and take the paper off, you dont need that.