Can "soil activators" improve clay?
Charles
In my ongoing battle to convert my clay soil into something that can
support plants, I am considering adding massive amounts of gypsum. But
while investigating this option, I noted that someone recommended a
product called Medina's soil activator for the purpose of improving clay
soil. Any advice on this type of product is much appreciated. For
instance, how does it affect the soil? Does it have side effects? Is
there a particular brand of soil activator that is better than
others?
And on a related topic, I also have a concentrated liquid product called
"Super Thrive" that is alleged to be some kind of plant hormone (I
think). What are people's opinions of this product?
For the record, I live in Southern California, USA, in what
Sunset Western Garden book calls zone 14. I planted about 150 plants
in the last year, and if I had known in advance the trouble I would have
keeping things alive, I would have either decided not to landscape at all,
or imported tons and tons of better soil. As it is, I have to find some
kind of remedy that does not involve replanting everything.
Thanks!
Charles
Pam Sinclair
knowledge, there is little short of gypsum or copious amounts of organics to
loosen and improve a clay soil. I am familiar with what I guess could be
termed a soil activator, but it is not specifically designed to improve clay
soil - rather it is intended to improve the microbial activity of the soil by
providing extremely high concentrations of soil bacteria and microorganisms
and micorrhizal innoculant.
It's a little like shutting the barn door after the horse has escaped now, but
improving soil condition is THE most important thing you can do for your
garden and should be undertaken before any planting. Depending on the size of
the plants you have already planted, I would seriously consider removing them,
amending the soil with as much organic matter (compost, manure) as you can get
hold of and then replanting. This should, of course, wait until the weather is
cooler - mid to late fall in SoCal. If this is beyond the realm of
possibility, then mulching regularly with the same type of heavy organic
matter will help, but the process will be much slower. In time and with normal
garden cultivation, this will work its way down into the existing soil and
help to loosen the clay. It really is a poor second, though.
Pam - gardengal
Victoria
>
>In my ongoing battle to convert my clay soil into something that can
>support plants, I am considering adding massive amounts of gypsum. But
>while investigating this option, I noted that someone recommended a
>product called Medina's soil activator for the purpose of improving clay
>soil. Any advice on this type of product is much appreciated. For
>instance, how does it affect the soil? Does it have side effects? Is
>there a particular brand of soil activator that is better than
>others?
Yes, Medina is a great product at helping keep tight clay soils mellow and
softer. It works by increasing the microbial activity in the soil and those
organisms enrich the soil with their waste and their dead bodies. Gypsum is an
okay thing to use provided it is pelletized. If you use powdered gyp, it will
not be AS effective at breaking up the clay, and be careful because it also adds
Ca (calcium) to the soil which you may already have plenty of in clay soil. I
would tell you to use the soil activator in conjunction with the use of compost.
You can add the compost to the top of the soil and gently scratch it in, the
worms will do the rest. Mulch, mulch and more mulch is another of the best
things you can do on a clay soil to keep it at the correct water level, and it
also stays much cooler allowing the macrobe and microbial parts in the soil to
flourish better. That is what you are trying to encourage. A fully LIVE soil,
rich in organisms. Compost feeds them, and they turn it into humus, the end
product of compost.
>And on a related topic, I also have a concentrated liquid product called
>"Super Thrive" that is alleged to be some kind of plant hormone (I
>think). What are people's opinions of this product?
I never used it and have no idea as to its efficacy. It may work. It may not.
I think healthy soil is the answer to a healthy plant.
>For the record, I live in Southern California, USA, in what
>Sunset Western Garden book calls zone 14. I planted about 150 plants
>in the last year, and if I had known in advance the trouble I would have
>keeping things alive, I would have either decided not to landscape at all,
>or imported tons and tons of better soil. As it is, I have to find some
>kind of remedy that does not involve replanting everything.
You don't have to replant everything. Lay out as much compost as you can
afford, then make it your life's work to mulch everything with about 3-4 inches
of mulch. Compost and mulch are two different things, but you can use compost
as mulch. It gets silly and confusing! I use manure based, finished compost to
enrich the soil, and I use shredded native cedars to mulch the TOP of the soil.
It takes anywhere between one and two years for plants to fully establish and
not need all the fussing and constant watering. I hope you used native or
adapted plants in that 150 plants. If not, there is no gurantee you will ever
be satisfied with the amount of watering you'll need to do.
How have you fertilized?
Victoria
dhme...@my-deja.com
Depending on the region of the country clay soils can be quite calcium
deficient.
Clay soils are aluminosilicates and contain more potential acidity than
sandy soils. As the pH falls below 5.5, aluminum become soluble at
levels toxic to plants. In addition, soluble aluminum reacts with water
to produce hydrogen ions further reducing soil pH. Since clay soils
generate more acidity than sandy soils, they require more lime to
counteract it.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Bethany
Depending on how tiny your 150 plants are (and how big you yard is), could
you create a raised bed somewhere else in your yard, fill that with
purchased topsoil, and replant your 150 plants in that... which would leave
your existing beds free to be amended this fall. Sort of a good way to
start off fresh... Than you could transplant the plants again in the
spring. (someone correct me if this isn't a good idea) ~Bethany
Pam Sinclair <grd...@aa.net> wrote in message
news:39767DF2...@aa.net...
> Charles wrote:
>
> > In my ongoing battle to convert my clay soil into something that can
> > support plants, I am considering adding massive amounts of gypsum. But
> > while investigating this option, I noted that someone recommended a
> > product called Medina's soil activator for the purpose of improving clay
> > soil. Any advice on this type of product is much appreciated. For
> > instance, how does it affect the soil? Does it have side effects? Is
> > there a particular brand of soil activator that is better than
> > others?
> >
> > And on a related topic, I also have a concentrated liquid product called
> > "Super Thrive" that is alleged to be some kind of plant hormone (I
> > think). What are people's opinions of this product?
> >
> > For the record, I live in Southern California, USA, in what
> > Sunset Western Garden book calls zone 14. I planted about 150 plants
> > in the last year, and if I had known in advance the trouble I would have
> > keeping things alive, I would have either decided not to landscape at
all,
> > or imported tons and tons of better soil. As it is, I have to find some
> > kind of remedy that does not involve replanting everything.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Charles
>
Victoria
are.