Making Bad Soil Good?

Question

We ordered a truck full of soil from a place in town and they brought us clay, bad soil. What can I do to make it good?

We have goats and dogs. If we mix in some of their poop will it make the soil richer? What about mixing in ashes from burned leaves and branches?

Please give me all you can but keep it cheap.

Answer 1

I'm in agreement with the first answer. (except for the lime)

if you compost (at temperature) the goat and dog poop, it can benefit your soil. I think I'd rather see you use yard compost (leaves, sticks, grass clippings) than the other.. you can probably get this from the local town nearest you. Blend the topsoil in with the clay (rototill) and add some garden GYPSUM into the clay material... Gyp helps break to down clay.. as does the organic content of the compost.

if you want blend in sand, you can, but unless it's pretty coarse sand, it doesn't do a lot in clay. the clay just kinda envelopes fine sand.

blend in ashes only if the soil is acidic. you'll have to get a garden pH tester to know this, most likely.

Good luck

Answer 2

Clay soil is already very rich, you need to break it up! I have seen the best results with mushroom compost, but that isnt available in all areas. Most people just add sand - which is usually cheap($5/yd). A little calcium(lime/gypsum) will give a lot of help too. Bottomline - If it doesn't drain well it won't grow good roots = bad plants.

If you don't properly compost animal feces (especially dogs) at a high enough temperature it can be harmful. Feces carries pathogens that, if come in contact with vegetables, can make you very sick at best. Feel free to use it around shrubs and flowers.

Answer 3

do not add the dog poop it is not good for compost or getting your soil better,the clay needs to be mixed with sand,peet moss,fertilizer, so it won't be so heavy and it will drain,and not compact,but first i would call the company you brought the soil from andtell them that isn't what you want and have them bring you top soil instead they might brought you the wrong soil

Answer 4

the in basic terms thanks to make undesirable soil solid even if it truly is clay or sand is to characteristic organic and organic count number number. Compost and manure. no longer too heavy on the manure or you are able to burn the roots in case you upload too a lot. As for weeds the in basic terms thanks to get rid of them is pull them in the experience that they are vast. Smother them out by putting something on proper of them or hoe them out at the same time as they are small and not in any respect enable them bypass to seed. after I first began gardening my elderly gardening neighbour said--enable one weed bypass to seed and also you may have 1000 the subsequent 3 hundred and sixty 5 days