Clay soil amendment

[foxtail]

Hello to all,

How is the best/ correctly to do it?

In example, when one dig up to plant a palm, etc?

I've heard, clay plus add sand is equal to concrete.

So, which is the better option? 

"Ingredients " etc, etc. ..

Peace and love,

Angel

[Kris]

Hi Angel,

We usually remove clay soil where we plant huge trees and palms.

And it could be 2 feet or 3 feet.I.e

Square or circular pits and fill it with high grade garden mix soil.

Our garden is clayey soil so we do so for all our plantings. 

Here's the visuals. .

Its worth all the effort. 

Love,

Kris. 

 

Edited July 16, 2016 by Kris

[Pip]

I use organics and gypsum in no particular ratio. I just use what ever I have on hand. The idea of amending clay is to get water to drain down through the soil rather than sitting or rushing over the surface. Think of it as making your garden bed into a sponge. The use of organics will also increase the biological activity in the soil to.

[Mohsen]

29 minutes ago, Kris said:

Hi Angel,

We usually remove clay soil where we plant huge trees and palms.

And it could be 2 feet or 3 feet.I.e

Square or circular pits and fill it with high grade garden mix soil.

Our garden is clayey soil so we do so for all our plantings. 

Here's the visuals. .

Its worth all the effort. 

Love,

Kris. 

 

Thanks Kris

I have the same issue maybe worse as I have rocky clay soil...

My worry about digging your way is that the root might act as a big pot and don't penetrate to the clay and only grow in the high grade garden soil...

I have read somewhere is better to let the plant get its roots to the clay as soon as possible to overcome the above issue...

But Of course I am not sure how valid that comment would be...

[Sabal Steve]

Some palms thrive in clay, so your method should differ, depending on the species.  I've planted lots of things in clay, with little amending, with pretty good results.  But, I've also added a decent amount of mulch over the years - which has changed the composition as well.  I've added gypsum too.  Raised, free-draining planters may be a good option for you too.

[foxtail]

On 7/15/2016, 10:24:26, Kris said:

Hi Angel,

We usually remove clay soil where we plant huge trees and palms.

And it could be 2 feet or 3 feet.I.e

Square or circular pits and fill it with high grade garden mix soil.

Our garden is clayey soil so we do so for all our plantings. 

Here's the visuals. .

Its worth all the effort. 

Love,

Kris. 

 

Good job there Kris, thanks for the advice.

Peace and love,

Angel 

[foxtail]

On 7/15/2016, 10:40:37, Pip said:

I use organics and gypsum in no particular ratio. I just use what ever I have on hand. The idea of amending clay is to get water to drain down through the soil rather than sitting or rushing over the surface. Think of it as making your garden bed into a sponge. The use of organics will also increase the biological activity in the soil to.

Thanks Pip, I'll work on that too.

[foxtail]

On 7/15/2016, 10:56:38, Mohsen said:

Thanks Kris

I have the same issue maybe worse as I have rocky clay soil...

My worry about digging your way is that the root might act as a big pot and don't penetrate to the clay and only grow in the high grade garden soil...

I have read somewhere is better to let the plant get its roots to the clay as soon as possible to overcome the above issue...

But Of course I am not sure how valid that comment would be...

Thanks for asking that Mohsen, I have the same concerns plus,

What happens when the roots surpass the amended area/ spot?

[foxtail]

On 7/15/2016, 11:25:44, Sabal Steve said:

Some palms thrive in clay, so your method should differ, depending on the species.  I've planted lots of things in clay, with little amending, with pretty good results.  But, I've also added a decent amount of mulch over the years - which has changed the composition as well.  I've added gypsum too.  Raised, free-draining planters may be a good option for you too.

Yes, I have some palms thriving in pure clay soil but a lot of palms like extremely well drained soil

[Kris]

Hi

Just got washed river sand delivered. This sand will be used to fill up the pits you have seen above..and 2 palm will be planted in those pits.