Just in case anyone is still interested, I was advised to use agricultural gypsum which I've done in a few times and will be doing again this year. Appears to be helping.
It is a myth to say you can’t, or shouldn’t try to improve clay soil. Yes, lots of plants like clay, but not horrible unimproved clay. Add lots of organic matter, as a mulch and let the worms do the work.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
I thought gypsum was really only suitable for agricultural situations, because it needs to be used regularly and long term, but I might have that wrong. Otherwise, we'd all be doing it instead of using manure etc.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Don't. I badly injured my back trying to improve clay soil. There are many plants that are very fond of clay and you will never have a drought problem. If you insist, dig in sand, grit and compost when planting, spread an organic mulch on the surface round about now, but please please avoid a lot of digging. Clay soil is where you are at. A better and safer way of using your time to get a soil analysis done to see whether it is acid or alkaline, this will give you a much better idea as to which plants to choose. Good luck
Unfortunately I've already decided on the plants I'm putting in and they don't like clay soil. I need to create a pleached evergreen barrier because the plots are overlooked so I've been improving it gradually over time. I've been treating it with gypsum and will be adding lots of manure and bark to rot down to improve the drainage
I thought gypsum was really only suitable for agricultural situations, because it needs to be used regularly and long term, but I might have that wrong. Otherwise, we'd all be doing it instead of using manure etc.
Seems to be working for me and there are a few you tube videos that show people using it in a residential setting. It's much cheaper than other methods but I'm using manure and chipped bark as well each year and so far it's doing a good job.
If you're putting in plants that don't like clay soil, that's a bit counterproductive. They'll either not thrive [or worse] or you'll be constantly trying to manage them. The soil needs to be properly improved first. Then the choice of plant made. You'll also need to check whether your clay soil is alkaline, neutral or acidic. Neutral can be excellent, but it can be at one end of the scale or the other, and that can also affect the choices. If you're buying ready pleached evergreens, they're very expensive, and it will pay to do the research first.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Otherwise, we'd all be doing it instead of using manure etc.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They'll either not thrive [or worse] or you'll be constantly trying to manage them.
The soil needs to be properly improved first. Then the choice of plant made.
You'll also need to check whether your clay soil is alkaline, neutral or acidic. Neutral can be excellent, but it can be at one end of the scale or the other, and that can also affect the choices. If you're buying ready pleached evergreens, they're very expensive, and it will pay to do the research first.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...