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How to dig in heavy clay soil

Hi, our whole area has very heavy clay soil, which is very heard to dig. It is vey heard when dry and really sticky when moist. Before planting I always dig in organic matter which improves the soil, but it is ver hard work. 
I wonder if you can share any tips or recommend tools to make digging a bit easier. 
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Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I'm afraid there aren't really any " quick fix " solutions. 
    If you can mulch heavily with bulky organic material, ( well rotted manure, or garden compost etc ) will help in the longer term.
    On a plus note, clay soils are very good at holding nutrients.
    Devon.
  • TheVanguardTheVanguard Posts: 136
    edited July 2022
    I have clay soils…when the going gets tough I turn to a mattock, not a magic solution by any means..but it usually gets the job done
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I had an area of heavy clay (dumped by builders) and followed the advice from the RHS - Composted bark fines. It broke the clay down to manageable in about 6 months after digging in 2 thick layers. I was surprised how well it worked - I did use a lot though.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/soil-composts-mulches/clay-soils

    https://www.cpa-horticulture.co.uk/compost/composted-bark-fines

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I find my ladies stainless steel pointy spade is much easier to dig clay soil with.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Clay is actually easy to break up if you get it at just the right time. Too dry and it is rock hard, Too wet and it is too sticky, but when it is not quite dry it breaks up very easily, and then you can mix it with other material.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
     When it's dry, get your fork in as far as you can without forcing it. Then lean on it and wiggle it with a circular motion. When you get it down a reasonable depth, lever the soil up. Brute force will warp or break the tines.
    Better still, wait until you've had a good soaking of rain. The soil will be wonderfully workable for about 3 days. When the window of opportunity opens, drop everything, take a day off work, do whatever is necessary and happily dig .
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    And just do a section at a time. No point doing your back in!
  • Novice23Novice23 Posts: 200
    I also add Clay Breaker when planting anything, and a few extra handfuls to be sure.  Most Clay breaker is either lime based or gypsum and along with some gravel helps break up the soil.  But as Hostafan says it does hold the nutrients and is good for roses.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Muck is much better than gypsum in the long run. And be careful with lime - if it's already alkaline it could be too much.
  • sabeehasabeeha Posts: 344
    edited August 2022
    I had to plant in a small shrub the day before yesterday - the ground was absolutely rock solid.

    Ended up pouring a watering can or twos worth of water in stages while I dug away with a hand trowel.  

    When it was slushy I mixed in soil conditioner then planted the shrub then watered again.

    Have no idea whether this is correct or not but I can hardly make an impression in my soil on a good day! I’m not very strong/fit!  I have even bought a ladies/smaller border fork and spade - to no avail ☹️
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