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Improving heavy clay soil - wet side/dryside
AlxNic
Posts: 259
Good morning
I have been reading all previous threads on how to improve heavy clay soil. Here's the situation:
- One side of the garden is very wet and shady, the soil is like potter clay, grows moss in winter
- The opposite side gets sun all day, is slightly higher (we're on a hill) and so bakes out and hardens into 'cement'
I have read that I should add grit/manure/organic matter and that makes sense to the wet side.
How do I treat the extremely dry side? I have read of people adding perlite to clay. I am thinking of some sort of moisture retentive material.
Thank you
0
Posts
Manure for the dry side too Alex. I know it sounds odd - but clay needs opened up in wet sites to allow for better drainage and manure helps with that, along with lots of grit and compost. In baked hard sites, manure will also help as it improves the structure and helps prevent it going solid. Plenty of extra compost as well - especially when you plant. I know - it sounds weird!
In addition, putting in planting that prefers the overhead conditions is the way to go. Right plant, right place
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Fairygirl - do I grit the dry side, too as well as manure? I'm planning a shopping trip so I am trying to work out how much I need of everything.
I thought I'd get started before I planted seeds/seedlings. I'd have to work around existing shrubs etc. Then repeat the procedure in autumn. I know it's a long term project.
How deep should I dig in? Not sure why I am asking that as I can hardly get down a shovel's height
You can add grit to the dry side too Alex. Once you have a good medium to plant into, you have more scope with planting. The manure is a big factor. You'll be surprised how big a difference it makes. The prep is worth it as plants will really benefit and thrive in clay if it's more friable.
Each time you plant, add a bit of compost and grit and manure too and you'll be constantly improving your borders
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks, I'll do that
agree. Manure and grit. As much as you can afford.
I had a client who used to pour grit into the cracks in her lawn when it shrunk in summer. Great idea, no digging required and the cracks obligingly appear in different places each time.
Right - lots of grit and manure on my shopping list. There are 6 beds to correct -plus 2 lawns and if cracks appear I will try the grit.
Thanks for the help
I never bother to improve the soil and plants grow just fine. I just make sure the planting holes are big and filled with decent soil and if there is any clay that doesn't crumble but sticks together in a big sticky lump I throw that away and replace it with nice stuff and usually some blood, fish and bone.
I like to cover all the beds with composted bark chippings every few years then the clay doesn't crack in summer as it's covered with thick mulch.
So I suppose that is improving the soil but doesn't involve digging up the entire garden.
in places we've got about 4" of soil over solid rock, as DD saw a couple of weeks ago.
Digging in many parts simply isn't an option.
Work with what you've got,but you can't beat a good deep mulch IMHO.
Definitely Hostafan.