Oddbean new post about login | logout My soil sucks. Just clay #garden https://image.nostr.build/ca8f98dc6310b0feda6078c88e6af7e4930dcb31918271c70a7ef92430e2eb8e.jpg
It needs organic matter and time. This might be a good case for using raised beds, though.
All mine so far are raised or no till. Trying to get some trees in the ground
It's going to be hard to get trees growing unless you go from seed & then you get a lot of variability. Comfrey is your friend & doesn't generally compete with trees. It'll send a nice big tap root down into the clay & encourages soil life (they drop a lot of exudates). You gotta keep that clay moist with mulch though. With your lasagne bed construction, lay some crushed charcoal (bio char) down at the soil layer. As this gets incorporated into the clay, it'll improve drainage & soil life. Use fast growing support trees like eucalyptus & legume trees to eventually pollard & coppice for bio mass. Clay is nutritious & holds water/life if it's kept moist. Drainage & compaction (no air pockets) is probably your biggest issue with it. Keep piling on organic matter that will be incorporated by the soil life you'll encourage.
Get a rolling aerator or just fork it for fun (teehee). Anyone living in a subdivision (I have no idea if you do or not), quickly learns the base dirt pad for all nee subdivisions is clay. I have this on good authority from a general contractor who puts them in. Even his mother’s house was not spared the dirt curse of clay.
Seems like it will be easier just to go the no till route and build up on top
Yes. It would. That layer is dense and intense. Erosion control will be your only issue with a soul build on top. I am sure you have addressed this tho.
Mmmm I'm not sure. What do I need to do? Here is my first bed https://image.nostr.build/ab734481e570dcc8109678f520fdb7ebfb4b3b5bc8989aa01f3127001164d993.jpg
Check out "Ecofarm" by Charles Walters. It is one of the best books on soil chemistry I have ever come across. Clay has wonderful properties if amended in a balanced manner. You can use Logan Labs for soil testing. This company KISS organics has an easy way to get a soil test done and provide you with recomendations based on the soil chemistry. https://www.kisorganics.com/products/soil-test-analysis-report
If only I could trade you some clay for my coarse sand
With enough organic matter, clay eventually makes the best soil. You’ll get there! Whatever organic matter you can get, just get it on the surface and let the worms do their thing. You can pile it up and plant into it, let the roots help the worm out.
