| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| vmfein |
Posted - Mar 08 2011 : 12:46:05 PM
Since the soil here where I live is the red/clay type do you have any ideas, to ensure a good garden? My husband and I of course will get some good organic soil to lay on top, but thought there might be something else we should do. I am also a beginner gardener, but never dealt with this type of soil before.
Farmgirl Sister #2619 |
| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Rosemary |
Posted - Mar 10 2011 : 11:22:47 AM
Hi, Valerie. I live not too far from you, in Fauquier County. Boy, I know what you mean about the hard clay soil. It bedevils me! I have three bits of advice:
1. Invest in (or rent) a small Troybilt tiller to help you break ground for a new garden, dig holes and so on. Don't use it for routine cultivating afterward, though. It will only compact the soil and worsen the problem. It's especially great if you have a lot of roots to dig through.
2. Amend the soil with local "leaf gro" type compost, available by the truckload. Shop around. Start composting. Add a little coarse sand, worm castings, worms themselves (they are your friends -- buy some if you can't lure them from elsewhere on your property), dried horse manure, all the usual stuff. Use leaves and straw for mulch. They break down quickly and can be turned back into the soil the following year. You can also put down heavy layers of newspaper with soil, compost, leaves etc. on top to keep weeds down. The paper biodegrades (just use plain newspaper, not the slick ad supplements).
3. Consider raised beds. Lightly cultivate the clay soil on the surface before building your bed. Most of the things you plant will root in the fresh fabulous soil you add. Beware of planting things with long tap roots in raised beds on hard clay, because they roots will naturally seek out the yummier soil and not go as deep as they should; they could get cooked.
Be patient and expect to work your tail off, but don't try to do it all at once. It's a work in progress. Good luck! |
| natesgirl |
Posted - Mar 09 2011 : 07:43:47 AM
I have clay soil here in indiana.
We have been puttin straw, leaves, and grass clippins into the leaf shredder and piling it up all year. We then put down half just before final fall tillin and till it in. The rest goes on top after it's tilled. You have to water it a bit if there's no rain or snow to keep it from blowin off, but it's worth the effort. Then till it under in the spring.
We also add large amounts of manure which we get free for the haulin off from a small horse farm locally. That helps tremendously. It has taken us about 3 years to see results, but they are pretty good results. We have also added rabbit manure to our list of admendments.
You'd be surprised the things you will be given for your garden if you ask for it on freecycle and craigslist. I have gotten 2 year old weather exposed straw and hay bales for free from people which had to be scooped up with shovels! Just post what you're wantin it for and people will contact you to clean up their messes.
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
| Room To Grow |
Posted - Mar 08 2011 : 6:32:34 PM
I live in Ga....and we too have red clay soil. We just have to improve the soil every year...we have put a garden in for 3 yrs now. And we still have to put in organic matter and compost...And we probably will have to for many yrs to come
Deborah
we have moved to our farm...and love it |
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