please help new gardener with soil problems

19 years ago

So here it goes! I bought my house about a year ago. The soil is almost solid clay. My first thought was to dig as much clay out of the first bed as possible and replace the soil. I bought "garden soil" at my local home depot and replaced about 8" of soil. The bag that said it was garden soil didn't seem to have any of what I would call "dirt" in it. I seemed to be a combo mulch and compost. That soil absorbs water well but doesn't seem to hold it. I drains to quickly or dries out, I am not sure which. Realizing my mistake,in the next two beds I just tried to amend the soil with store bought compost. Now in those two beds the water just seems to roll off the top of the soil. After a heavy watering the soil is completely dry an inch or so below the surface.The beds are planted,so I cannot rework the beds. Is there something I should try to work into the soil between the plants? I am guessing the first bed will require a different approach than the second. I like the idea of organic gardening.What are my steps to good healthy soil?

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Comments (3)

javamilk
19 years ago
My parents have clay soil.

They have begun burying kitchen scraps wherever they don't have plants. Composting in place... The idea is, they're not using that space this year so improve it for next year.

When you say you tried to amend the soil in your 2nd two beds, did you work the compost in or lay it on top? Try working it in really well. Also, maybe add some leaves or small sticks while you're working the compost.

Others should be along shortly, who have dealt with this issue. In the meantime, try a forum search for amending clay soil. For me, the problem is not having the compost disappear too quickly in my sandy, sandy soil.
patty4150
19 years ago
Hi Sean,

I live in Southern California, and we have heavy, alkaline clay. I'm originally from the midwest, and when we moved here I had no idea what to do to make the clay more workable.

Some of my friends did what you did - they just put amendments on top of the clay or replaced some inches with amendments. The problem they ran into was exactly what you describe.

We went a different route, and added gypsum to the clay. But, in the end, I wasn't happy with that either.

Mixing some of your clay (maybe 20%) into the beds is a good start - the clay will help retain the water and give the bed more diversity of .... planting mix. It will be good.

More long term, we have switched to lasagna gardening and it is INCREDIBLE. The layers break down into the most beautiful, worm-rich growing medium you can imagine.

I suggest you start layering various mulches and used coffee grounds, etc, on your beds, after you work in some clay. I usually layer about 15 - 20 inches of materials over the course of a year (I added three inches of various materials yesterday, for example, around my plants). Those end up being just a few inches of incredible planting mix, and you just keep on layering and building.

You can turn the decomposed stuff into the underlying soil, as well, down the road, although some recommend against it.
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Kimmsr
19 years ago
Buying soil to replace what you have is an unnecesary exercise and usually a waste of money. Add organic matter to what you have, no matter what you have, and that soil will become something useful and will grow really good plants.