This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Improving Soil Quality
Lalat
Posts: 29
Hiya fellow gardeners,
I've had my garden plot since last year and before it was a vegetable plot it was just grass so I think it needs nutrients added, which ones? It is also extremely clayey which makes it really hard to dig as well as the unpleasant colour of the clay, how can I make it better?
I hope you can help and thanks in advance,
Lalat.
0
Posts
Well rotted farm yard manure is my choice, if you arent into digging, lay it on top in as thick a layer as you can, this is best done in autumn especially as you want to grow veggies.
Clay is known for being more rich in nutrients than other soil types, so that might not be an issue, but i understand you wanting to break it up a little and making it easier to work.
In the old days i would reccomend you double dig the area, incorporating muck as you go, but this seems to have gone out of fashion, i read somewhere that it could be harmful to the structure of the soil, but maybe one good go to break it up might do more good than bad? It really is your chioce, i would be tempted to dig
You need organic matter - leafmould or well rotted farmyard manure, and home- made compost. If you haven't started a compost pile, you need to do it as soon as you can, especially if you want to grow vegetables. The clay is made of very tiny particles that stick together, organic material is more fibrous with bigger particles and makes the soil more open and easier to dig. It helps it to warm up faster in spring and stops it going so hard in dry weather. Leafmould hasn't much nourishment but is very good for the soil, while manure will add nutrients as well. However some veg don't do as well on freshly manured soil. Manure will vary a bit in the exact balance of nutrients, so if you are worried about the level of fertility you would do better to add a balanced fertiliser from the garden centre. That will get you started, then as you learn more you will find out how to tailor the feed to the needs of the plants you want to grow.