Amending hard packed clay soil

[Cottonbowls]

Looking for any tips on amending and conditioning hard packed clay soil. I'm trying to get started next month when all of my girls are done. I had a hell of a time digging and hauling in soil this year and have now realized that my holes where not big enough to support the growth I'm used to in better soil. I wanted to try to keep my soil conditioners organic if possible by using composted manure, peat and some type of granulated fert, but also need to lower the ph and wasnt sure about hydrated lime or if there was a better alterntetive. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Cottonbowls Reviewed by Cottonbowls on 09-22-2009. Amending hard packed clay soil Looking for any tips on amending and conditioning hard packed clay soil. I'm trying to get started next month when all of my girls are done. I had a hell of a time digging and hauling in soil this year and have now realized that my holes where not big enough to support the growth I'm used to in better soil. I wanted to try to keep my soil conditioners organic if possible by using composted manure, peat and some type of granulated fert, but also need to lower the ph and wasnt sure about hydrated Rating: 5

[punkin]

I am going to try
Monty's Liquid Carbon

I have used Monty's Joy Juice and it works great.

[Cottonbowls]

Thanks punkin. Do you just use the liquid or are there other additives also. I have very little experience with this, as I'm used to the sandy soil closer to the coast.

[punkin]

Very poor soil here, clay hard as a rock.
I have access to mushroom compost. I have added that for the last two years, it has helped, also I added horse manure and still fight the weeds it held, so I will not do that again. I have black walnut roots in the earth in this area too, nothing much grows around them.
Just found the Monty's products, it sure cannot hurt my dirt.

[Shovelhandle]

bale of alfalfa. :thumbsup:

[Lanietheberner]

organics as well as some sand and fine gravel. Make sure that you soil drains, by filling the hole halfway (after you add in your mix) with water and then check to see how long it takes to drain 2 inches out of the hole.

If it takes more than 1 hour, you need to take other measures to fix the soil (more organics and maybe a drain system if you're really bad)

[sarah louise]

If it's an alkaline clay you can add gypsum (calcium sulfate) as well as the alfalfa and mushroom compost mentioned already, they'll work better together.

The only time not to use gypsum is with an acid clay like ancient mangrove soil. These will hardpan if you add gypsum.

[Cottonbowls]

Appreciate the input. Experimented and found that cotton burr compost combined with gypsum seemed to worked about as well as the liquid carbon. Also started adding liquid humus at the end of last season and used a cover crop im going to till into the soil. Was to late to plant alfalfa but ill know that this year