Page 1 of 1[1]
COMPACTED CLAY SOIL
| Member | Message |
|---|---|
 |
Posted: Aug/18/2008 8:47 PM PST
I HAVE A NEW HOME I AM STARTING TO LANDSCAPE. ONE CORNER OF THE BACKYARD IS NOTHING BUT HARD COMPACTED CLAY SOIL. IT ALSO HOLDS WATER FOR A WHILE AFTER IT RAINS. IT IS SO COMPACTED, IT DOES NOT DRAIN WELL. ANY IDEAS ON WHAT PLANTS OR SHRUBS I COULD FORCE TO LIVE IN THIS CORNER? |
 |
Posted: Aug/18/2008 9:04 PM PST
You really should till it up 6-8 inches, add leaves, compost, gypsum. and till some more as an alternative to forcing something to live in it. you will just end up with something dead and soggy... Take the time to work it. I started out with hard compact clay, and the time it takes is worth it. |
|
|
Posted: Aug/19/2008 6:19 AM PST
I HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING TILLING IT UP. I ALSO STARTED A COMPOST BIN LAST MONTH. I HAVE BEEN PUTTING KITCHEN SCRAPS, LEAVES AND SUCH. I WAS TOLD TO PUT MY LAWN CLIPPINGS IN IT, BUT WE LIVE IN THE COUNTRY AND THEIR ARE A LOT OF WEEDS SO I HAVE NOT DONE THIS. THANKS FOR THE ADVICE, I WAS THINKING THIS SECTION OF MY YARD WAS BEYOND HOPE. |
|
|
Posted: Aug/19/2008 7:07 AM PST
As long as the weeds haven't flowered, or you haven't put a weed killer on them go ahead and use them too. |
 |
Posted: Aug/26/2008 8:32 AM PST
Take the time to improve the soil- you and your plants will be much happier in the long run  Add the clippings and weeds to the pile too- if it gets hot enough it will kill those seeds. I have some pretty bad clay here too. I add shredded leaves directly onto it and work them in. I also use leaves and grass clippings as mulch, as they really help to improve the soil, and hold in moisture as well as expensive mulches. Not to mention those are items I have in abundance 
|
Page 1 of 1[1]
Read Next Discussion
