clay into good soil?

BrackishTortoise

BrackishTortoise

New Member
Anyone ever turned clay into soil that I can plant in? Plan is to just dig into it and add organic matter once in a while. Do I need to worry about brown/green ratios? Add other stuff? I'd like to do this chemical free. How long does the process take? What were you able to plant once your soil was good?
 
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phreddyp

Well-Known Member
It is a slow process , my soil had a LOT of clay in it . My garden plot is about 25 x 30 feet
  1. Till as deep as you can .
  2. Add builders sand I added about 25 50 lb bags.
  3. Add about 25 25 lb bags of gypsum.
  4. Add as much compost as you can find.
  5. Add as much COW manure as you can find. It should be a least 1 year old.
  6. Add a 50 lb bag of nugget dog food . ( yes I know sounds crazy )
  7. Till all ingredients thoroughly into the clay.
  8. Add about 1000 earthworms . ( You can find them online , or dig them up yourselves )
  9. Send a soil sample to the MD. University's agriculture dept.
10 Add required stuff suggested by U of MD.

My garden soil is great now I added some additional sand , gypsum and dog food as needed , add compost every year .
You will be happy with the results.
 
Hessian

Hessian

Well-Known Member
If gardening is important to you (sounds like it is)...join "5 acre living" on Facebook. Tens of thousands of home owners, gardeners, homesteaders,--each brings their experience to the discussion. You could post a serious question (as you have here) and plenty of varied advice will follow.

I am building my raised beds now...sifting soil...lined with 5 mil pond liner & 4 inch drain pipes to reduce watering. A LOT of work,...for a few handfuls of vegetables...but they are mine!
 

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frequentflier

frequentflier

happy to be living
If you have the room, consider a compost pile. When we bought our property 6 years ago, I took an area and started with leaves, fruits and veggies scraps, egg shells, old potting soil. I would turn it over often and leave a ridge down the center for rain. Last year a friend up the road had a huge pile of horse manure that was thoroughly aged (like 5 years!) that she needed to get rid of. Many trips with my trusty Kubota and I had a lot of manure to add to my "pile" . In the fall, I added some more leaves and continued turning it over several times a month.
The result has been a rich soil with a lot of worms that I have used to top dress all the plants on the property and used to pot up annuals; in addition to potting soil. My soil is very sandy.
My pile is about 8' long and 5' wide. If you have the room (and access to manure), this is the way to go! Beware of fresh manure, though. It is hot and can burn up plants.
 
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Scat

Scat

Well-Known Member
BrackishTortoise said:
Anyone ever turned clay into soil that I can plant in? Plan is to just dig into it and add organic matter once in a while. Do I need to worry about brown/green ratios? Add other stuff? I'd like to do this chemical free. How long does the process take? What were you able to plant once your soil was good?
Click to expand...
sand, mulch and aged manure (cow, horse, goat, pig, chicken) which manure really does depend on what you plan to grow. Cow is best for most vegetables, chicken is best for grass (high Nitrogen)
 
Scat

Scat

Well-Known Member
Hessian said:
yeah...wife figured out that that if we plant tomatoes on the trellis...the scent is unpleasant to the deer. If that fails, I also may be interested in venison jerky.
Click to expand...
marigolds around the edges to prevent moles, irish spring soap to prevent deer, heavy layer of old newspaper instead of landscape fabric
 
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phreddyp

Well-Known Member
frequentflier said:
If you have the room, consider a compost pile. When we bought our property 6 years ago, I took an area and started with leaves, fruits and veggies scraps, egg shells, old potting soil. I would turn it over often and leave a ridge down the center for rain. Last year a friend up the road had a huge pile of horse manure that was thoroughly aged (like 5 years!) that she needed to get rid of. Many trips with my trusty Kubota and I had a lot of manure to add to my "pile . In the fall, I added some more leaves and continued turning it over several times a month.
The result has been a rich soil with a lot of worms that I have used to top dress all the plants on the property and used to pot up annuals; in addition to potting soil. My soil is very sandy.
My pile is about 8' long and 5' wide. If you have the room (and access to manure), this is the way to go! Beware of fresh manure, though. It is hot and can burn up plants.
Click to expand...
Not to mention the seeds which will sprout in unseasoned manure !
 
Scat

Scat

Well-Known Member
frequentflier said:
If you have the room, consider a compost pile. When we bought our property 6 years ago, I took an area and started with leaves, fruits and veggies scraps, egg shells, old potting soil. I would turn it over often and leave a ridge down the center for rain. Last year a friend up the road had a huge pile of horse manure that was thoroughly aged (like 5 years!) that she needed to get rid of. Many trips with my trusty Kubota and I had a lot of manure to add to my "pile . In the fall, I added some more leaves and continued turning it over several times a month.
The result has been a rich soil with a lot of worms that I have used to top dress all the plants on the property and used to pot up annuals; in addition to potting soil. My soil is very sandy.
My pile is about 8' long and 5' wide. If you have the room (and access to manure), this is the way to go! Beware of fresh manure, though. It is hot and can burn up plants.
Click to expand...
A couple of thoughts and links FYI. no grass clippings? several times a month may be turning too much. Do you use a compost thermometer? Given any thought to worm farming while composting
https://www.epicgardening.com/best-compost-thermometer/
https://www.finegardening.com/article/hot-composting-vs-cold-composting
https://thesquirmfirm.com/get-started-worm-farming-a-beginners-guide/
 
stgislander

stgislander

Well-Known Member
PREMO Member
Hessian said:
If gardening is important to you (sounds like it is)...join "5 acre living" on Facebook. Tens of thousands of home owners, gardeners, homesteaders,--each brings their experience to the discussion. You could post a serious question (as you have here) and plenty of varied advice will follow.

I am building my raised beds now...sifting soil...lined with 5 mil pond liner & 4 inch drain pipes to reduce watering. A LOT of work,...for a few handfuls of vegetables...but they are mine!
Click to expand...
I love the corner pieces. Did you make those or purchase them?
 
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phreddyp

Well-Known Member
I have a three compartment compost bin and turn them over in the spring . By the time it gets a year in the third bin it is ready to use , not many seeds to sprout and worms galore.

I put almost anything organic in the bins yard clippings, leaves , kitchen scraps (no meat or cheese ) vegetable oils , crab shrimp shells , eggshells Works like a champ !
 
frequentflier

frequentflier

happy to be living
Scat said:
A couple of thoughts and links FYI. no grass clippings? several times a month may be turning too much. Do you use a compost thermometer? Given any thought to worm farming while composting
https://www.epicgardening.com/best-compost-thermometer/
https://www.finegardening.com/article/hot-composting-vs-cold-composting
https://thesquirmfirm.com/get-started-worm-farming-a-beginners-guide/
Click to expand...
No thermometer and I don't feel that it is being turned too much. My back ground is in horticulture and when I see the results, it makes me feel I am doing something right.
Also no grass clippings as I pay someone to mow what little grass we have on our acre. I do add a little wood ash and shredded newspaper but that takes longer to compost. I put that off to one side and add to the main area I pull from gradually.
 
Hessian

Hessian

Well-Known Member
stgislander said:
I love the corner pieces. Did you make those or purchase them?
Click to expand...
The only place that carries those is Home depot...3.85 each. 22 pounds. Center has a hole to drive in rebar. VERY practical & long lasting. worthwhile addition. (Not happy about waiting in line just to get in the store though!!)
 
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