Help with Clay Soil
Cecelia
that's how it was spelled) for an area in front of my house that is very
shady. When I went to plant it, I found the soil to be VERY clay-ish (you
could make pottery out of it!). Years ago when I planted my first garden, I
remember 'testing' the soil by picking it up and making a ball...if it fell
apart immediately it was too sandy, if it stayed clumped it was too
clay-ish... My soil was fine so I don't remember what to do if it's like
this. Can anybody help me?
Cecelia
Jim Voege
mean) because they are moisture lovers and clay tends to hold moisture best.
You can avoid the other problems with clay (without losing its advantages)
by simply working in lots of organic matter -- compost, manure, etc.
--
Jim Voege
Remove nospam for reply
"Cecelia" <mrsn...@home.com> wrote in message
news:AIQQ6.10157$qp1.4...@news1.rdc1.ne.home.com...
John Riley
>Add compost to your soil. Compost helps all kinds of soils,
>including clay and sandy. The plus of having clay soil (over
>sandy) is that it contains nutrients.
It MAY, but the big plus of clay AND compost is that they can HOLD
nutrients for use by the plants.
> You could also add sand to
>the clay soil, but the compost has the added benefit of adding
>organic matter.
You need BOTH sand and organic matter. These are both necessary
components of good soil.
Regards John Riley West Oz
Jim Voege
"John Riley" <john...@iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:f6f8htket8pfnhasf...@4ax.com...
adequate organic matter the addition of sand *probably* wouldn't be
necessary.
John F. Stevens
experience/opinion is to dig it all out. Here is Southern Maryland I have
both the gray stuff that seems to stay very wet and the "regular" red to tan
stuff. I regularly amend the second type with compost, good loam (dirt, sand
and cow manure) and maybe half the original clay which has been well tilled
up. I often also add some inert Clay Soil ammendments.
My experience is that real bad clay will kill plants within several years
unless well ammended and a large hole 3 to 4 time the root ball is used.
I dug some of the gray clay, made a few 2 inch round balls out of it, let it
dry overnight had excellent rocks!
(Sorry bad week-end in the yard fight this @$^*())) stuff).
"Cecelia" <mrsn...@home.com> wrote in message
news:AIQQ6.10157$qp1.4...@news1.rdc1.ne.home.com...
John Riley
wrote:
Fair enough, Jim, I missed that bit. She wants to keep it pretty wet
then.
Night23
rocks in the backyard and i turned to pyrotechnics.
Just for fun, I created a home made pipe bomb with a weak explosive from
some household chemicals (a dumb and dangerous thing to do). I dug a
deep narrow hole in the soil and attached a long fuse to the pipe bomb.
Lit it and ran....
10 seconds later, the ground literally rocked like it was a wave on the
ocean with a rolling rumbling sound in the earth beneath (which I
actually felt while hiding behind the corner). I don't remember if that
loosened any clay but I remember grinning widely when asked.... "what
was that!".. shortly thereafter. :)
Its a good thing there was no electrical or water pipe line running
through there else I would have surely been in serious trouble.
Cecelia
plant...that will have to be up to me! hehe I have never seen this plant
before, but couldn't resist it when I was at the Nursery. I'm sure you've
all been there. I am thinking about going back for two more like it, but
wanted to make sure I could fix the soil first.
Cecelia
Jim Voege
and then there is CLAY... ;-)
Jim Voege
flowers. It's best in all day filtered sun or direct sun in the morning
only. It has only one real demand and that is for moisture. It therefore
benefits from mulching more than most. In the right conditions it will
benefit from division every 3 years or so although I have gotten away with
doing it only two years after initial planting. I've never needed any kind
of pest or disease control whatsoever (although I suppose there's always a
first time). The flowers are long lasting and excellent for drying. Enjoy.
Jim Voege
"victoria" <ani...@animaux.net0> wrote in message
news:e2r9htcktvc58g76g...@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 30 May 2001 08:24:55 -0400, "Jim Voege" <jfv...@sprint.ca> wrote:
>
>
> >That was my thinking. Of course as others have pointed out there is clay
> >and then there is CLAY... ;-)
>
My
> concentration is more directed toward plants which are native or
completely
> adapted. I have much more success...with a lot less fuss. However, no
plant
> will turn away OM.
>
I must admit that I am blessed with non-problematic soil. It is mainly silt
with the remainder being more sand that clay. The pH varies from 7.1 to
6.7. Provided it is sufficiently hardy and I can find a spot that matches
its light requirements, I can grow just about anything (raised beds for acid
lovers though).
Dcmbr
bone meal, plant your flower. The next season when you break the ground were
you planted the flower--lo and behold is not hard packed clay.
I discovered this by accident while planting flowers one spring. All the
advise says to use gypsum, but bone meal works.
>Subject: Help with Clay Soil
>From: "Cecelia" mrsn...@home.com
>Date: 5/29/01 12:08 PM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: <AIQQ6.10157$qp1.4...@news1.rdc1.ne.home.com>
Susan K. Wehe
The next time the Wildflower Center holds a sale, you should find all
the natives you mentioned plus a couple I hadn't even thought of. Good
prices too.
susan
"victoria" <ani...@animaux.net0> wrote in message
news:33pahtkiumsd1ungi...@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 30 May 2001 09:34:07 -0400, "Jim Voege" <jfv...@sprint.ca> wrote:
>
>
> >I must admit that I am blessed with non-problematic soil. It is mainly
silt
> >with the remainder being more sand that clay. The pH varies from 7.1 to
> >6.7. Provided it is sufficiently hardy and I can find a spot that
matches
> >its light requirements, I can grow just about anything (raised beds for
acid
> >lovers though).
>
> I have a wonderful mix of soils on the property. Up by the house, there
is
> solid white caliche. ONLY native plants will grow there. I am looking
now for
> a few. Viburnum rufidulum, also a Rhus aromatica, Cornus drummondii
(roughleaf
> dogwood), Carolina buckthorn and a native privet...don't recall botanical
name.
>
> On the other side of the property I have beautiful sandy, clay loam, with
a
> wonderful texture and plenty of OM because I added 12 yards of the stuff
when I
> planted the border back there.
>
> I don't exactly know the pH of the soil as it is never really an issue as
long
> as I use plants which are native or adapted to these local soils, and that
I
> know what structure and texture I am working with. It's a joy since I
started
> using natives.
>
> victoria
>
>
> http://www.freetibet.org
>
Susan K. Wehe
MG tour this Saturday (got to keep up the continuing education) between
softball games :)
susan
"victoria" <ani...@animaux.net0> wrote in message
news:h2lchtgsqp7h5f1ej...@4ax.com...
> Yeah, I know. I missed this years sale. BTW, if you are familiar with
it,
> Newtons on Mopac is having their annual OPEN TO THE PUBLIC sale. They are
a
> wholesale nursery who does this every June. Their stock is beautiful,
too. I
> am going to go this Saturday. I believe it's a one day sale.
>
> V
>
>
> On Thu, 31 May 2001 13:58:46 GMT, "Susan K. Wehe" <sw...@earthlink.net>
wrote: