How can I improve my clay soil for planting fruit trees and flowers!I was told that lime helps to improve clay soil!Help!Any advice appreciated, thanks.
marlin9,
Nov 16, 12:50pm
Think you need Guypsum.
kaliyuga,
Nov 16, 1:43pm
yes gypsum helps break down clay soils best used along with lots ofcompost and coarse (river) sand
kaliyuga,
Nov 16, 1:44pm
trench composting is good too in the long term
mrfxit,
Nov 17, 9:15am
Compost (any sort/ old/ new/ rubbishy compost )/ DEEP digging turning it over/ more of the former. Works a treat,
carter441,
Nov 17, 11:50am
Thanks very much people - appreciate your help!That Gypsum certainly sounds interesting, will check it out!
spiritofgonzo,
Nov 17, 5:37pm
gypsum works like lime, in breaking down clay, but it doesn't alter the ph like lime does.The best though is a mix of compost, sand, and gypsum all mixed in.It can take a few years
karakagranny,
Nov 17, 7:12pm
We have just built a very large veg garden and flower garden on solid clay ie the builders scooped up the topsoil and took it away even when I begged they leave it. 1st thing we did was rotary hoe the proposed gardens, then rotary hoed in gypsum. Then we put down about 300 bags of horse poo and tons of compost and top soil. We now have amazing plants, trees and veg growing - all in a year. Its just a matter of topping and mulching
bluefrog2,
Nov 18, 6:43pm
Dig, add gypsum, compost, maybe some lime.Wait. Repeat. It does take a while. Even if you add heaps of gypsum and compost, it tends to get really sticky and clumpy again. I find it takes a couple of years to condition the soil properly. If you're in a hurry with the fruit trees, I'd suggest replacing some of the soil with a planting mix (something like rose compost or super dirt(!)), and planting into that. Flowers are not such a problem as you will be replacing them regularly, or they are easily moved,and you can dig the soil again.
jhan,
Nov 18, 8:06pm
You have clay! I have 8 inches of topsoil ontop of rock, sometimes only 3 inches. At least you have soil. To plant something I need a pick.
tigra,
Nov 8, 5:58am
Yes its not an "overnight" process.If you wish to plant trees in such a location best to dig a large hole ( much bigger, wider than you would normally do)add a mix of topsoil and compostin the bottom, insert tree and pack around with more of the topsoil compost mix and keep well watered fora few weeks.
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