Hi @barry.gibson.ukQjXIEYYb - the good news is that clay is an excellent growing medium If the area is empty just now, the addition of any organic matter on it will benefit it enormously. Well rotted manure is the best, or even fresh stuff if you don't need to use the area until spring. Compost , leaf mould etc, all just laid on top will work down over winter, and in spring you can dig it over and plant. If you add compost every so often, it will all help.
If the plants you have are small, it's better to wait until spring anyway for planting.
Second this.
I only started gardening last year and my soil was compacted clay. I worked in as much manure and compost as I could and mulched over winter, this year my soil is absolutely beautiful, crumbly and light. I also added sharp sand and grit to an area for Mediterranean plants to make it even more free draining.
Wait for some rain first (not too much or it'll be too claggy, just a day after some rain) as that'll soften the clay which you can then work LOTS of manure into, if you can't get manure then good multi compost, not the fine stuff as that just turns to dust very fast.
Its so overwhelming when you have clay soil but its such a simple thing to amend... Just requires lots of labour.
I would agree with Nollie. My previous garden was heavy clay. I dug in a lot of sharp grit along with a lot of organic material, dung, compost, leaf mould etc. It took a few years to change from claggy to friable but was lovely eventually. The worms arrived as if by magic. I would wait until next year before planting out any small plants, that way you can dig away happily with not damage to plants.
What I would say is, work with what you've got. Improve the structure certainly but ultimately you won't change a clay soil too much over the long term. Also trying to change soil pH is like pushin' water uphill... Clay will support a great range of plants. My garden is silty clay with slightly raised borders which helped and a large bog garden. Gave up on lawns about 5 years ago. Enjoy the challenge.
I'd agree @SydRoy - you can't change the pH of a soil. We often get that query on the forum. People are desperate for pink hydrangeas where they can only grow blue, or they want Rhodos and Camellias but have alkaline soil. Doesn't work. However, improving the structure of clay will always have a benefit, and means a much bigger group of plants to play with and choose from. Funnily enough, I was putting in a new clematis yesterday, and the ground was great. When I moved in here, that part was just compacted grass [all clay soil round here] and I cut a stretch for a border and added a layer of manure, almost exactly 7 years ago, planting up the bulk of it the following year. That corner, where the clem, is has had workmen trampling it building an extension, bulk bags of gravel dumped on it, and had nothing planted there until 4 years ago. Just the initial manure, and adding some compost with the plants, and more in autumn as a mulch, is what's helped.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
You certainly can improve clay soil, as Fairygirl demonstrates. However, there is clay and clay. Some is full of nutrients waiting to be released but some is water-logged and lifeless. The latter benefits from deep digging in of muck and grit because there won't, initially, be any worms to do the work for you.
You certainly can improve clay soil, as Fairygirl demonstrates. However, there is clay and clay. Some is full of nutrients waiting to be released but some is water-logged and lifeless. The latter benefits from deep digging in of muck and grit because there won't, initially, be any worms to do the work for you.
And to tell the difference, the former is usually reddish brown, the latter a sickly mottled greyish colour.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
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I only started gardening last year and my soil was compacted clay. I worked in as much manure and compost as I could and mulched over winter, this year my soil is absolutely beautiful, crumbly and light. I also added sharp sand and grit to an area for Mediterranean plants to make it even more free draining.
Wait for some rain first (not too much or it'll be too claggy, just a day after some rain) as that'll soften the clay which you can then work LOTS of manure into, if you can't get manure then good multi compost, not the fine stuff as that just turns to dust very fast.
Its so overwhelming when you have clay soil but its such a simple thing to amend... Just requires lots of labour.
I would wait until next year before planting out any small plants, that way you can dig away happily with not damage to plants.
Clay will support a great range of plants. My garden is silty clay with slightly raised borders which helped and a large bog garden. Gave up on lawns about 5 years ago.
Enjoy the challenge.
However, improving the structure of clay will always have a benefit, and means a much bigger group of plants to play with and choose from.
Funnily enough, I was putting in a new clematis yesterday, and the ground was great. When I moved in here, that part was just compacted grass [all clay soil round here] and I cut a stretch for a border and added a layer of manure, almost exactly 7 years ago, planting up the bulk of it the following year. That corner, where the clem, is has had workmen trampling it building an extension, bulk bags of gravel dumped on it, and had nothing planted there until 4 years ago. Just the initial manure, and adding some compost with the plants, and more in autumn as a mulch, is what's helped.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...