Improving the Clay Soil in Your Yard

Field of clay soil

If your yard has heavy clay soil, you understand what a challenge it can be for plants. Heavy clay drains gradually. This means it remains wet longer after rain. When the sun dries the soil, it forms a hard surface. Below are some ideas about improving the clay soil in your yard.

On the positive side, clay soil has more minerals than sandy soil. And clay's inclination to hold water can be an advantage.
Healthy soil possesses clay particles, sand, and silt. Heavy soil has too many particles and not enough sand or silt to give plants the nutrients and moisture they need to grow.  

Soils with too much clay in them get waterlogged when wet, choking out the oxygen to plant roots. When dry, it compacts easily, stopping roots from getting into the soil and withstanding drainage. Amending the soil correctly enhances texture and reinforces plant growth.

Improve Your Clay Soil
Dig the soil and do a soil test to get the pH and nutrient level of the soil.

Spread some compost over the soil and work it in with a spade or garden fork, breaking up any chunks of clay.

Put on another layer of organic matter, including fertilizer and work the mixture into the soil with a spade. Turn the soil until the compost is distributed evenly.

Rake the area smooth and plant according to the spacing and depth for the specific plant.

Construct raised beds. Since clay soils hold water, build raised beds can help perfect drainage by making the water runoff. Raised beds can be just a pile of dirt or can be made out of stone, wood, or brick. To reduce compaction, measure the beds so you can get to the middle without walking on the bed.

Mulch beds over the wintertime. Heavy rain hardens bare soil. So, beds should be applied with eco-green mulch both in the winter and the growing season. You can get organic mulch from a stump grinding business. Putting some straw over the beds will reduce erosion and safeguard the soil from compaction. It can also aid in reducing weed growth.

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