Guide: How To Improve Clay Soil

[Courtney Tompkins]

With the exception of coastal areas or the southwestern desert, most people who live in North America have to deal with clay in their soils.

 

Clay has a tendency to become compacted, reduce water infiltration rates and lock up key nutrients in the soil.

 

 

Don't give up on planting in clay soil! There are solutions to improve your soil.

 

There are many ways to combat these issues, the most popular is mechanically, through aeration, but there is also a less invasive way to condition the soil and improve the environment so your lawn and plants can thrive.

 

This method is to apply soil amendments such as gypsum or limestone.

 

The main ingredient in each of these naturally occurring organic materials is calcium and it is the calcium that breaks up the soil profile; reducing compaction, increasing water infiltration rates and increasing soil nutrient availability to the plant.

 

Adding soil amendments is a very safe and effective method to eliminating poor soil conditions caused by heavy clay.

 

NatraTurf's HydroSave is great example of this. Made from extremely pure gypsum, it is an extremely effective organic option for improving clay soils.

Sprinkling on HydroSave will help break up the ground, reduce your need to water and help your plants thrive!

 

If you have any questions I can answer about your clay soil, please comment below!

 

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NatraTurf offers the same soil science mastered in the agriculture world to families who want chemical-free lawns and gardens. Our products are manufactured at employee-owned plants in the midwest. We make products easy-to-use and simple to understand. And, at NatraTurf, you can be sure, it’s natural and organic or we don’t make it.

[Courtney Tompkins]

Alfred - thanks for the comment. It's nice to hear from someone who really understands the soil! Glad you're familiar with our HydroSave too!

 

Best, Courtney

[Shirley Bovshow]

Love the "geek talk!"  Thanks for your 2 cents Alfred.

Anything to add Courtney?

 

[AgVerra]

Nice article. Adding gypsum (calcium sulfate) on alkaline soil is great way to start breaking up the clay. Compaction leads to many other issues not least of which is killing off the good soil biology. Once they are compromised the plant rely on more easy to absorb chemical (salt based) NPK fertilizers which then adds more salts to the soil causing even more compaction ... and you can see where this cycle is heading.

 

Healthy soils are full of good biology which need oxygen (aerobic) and moisture to survive and to feed the roots. So naturally the biology keeps the area where they live areated. Bad bugs being anaerobic (survive without oxygen) thrive in compacted soils.

 

Along with the HydroSave (which is a convenient and clean way to add gypsum) add some compost or fresh compost tea. Moo Poo would be a good choice here. If you have really compacted or hard clay then try a professional biological product to introduce good biology and kickstart the process. Biological products that also include mycorrhizae will do wonders. These products are typically a one time application if done at planting.

 

Happy Gardening

Alfred