clay soil

[blue-and-green]

Nearly all my garden is clay soil, so, very good for some plants, like roses, but i have lost so much too since a lot wont grow. Can anyone please tell me which other plants love clay soil and what i can do to break up a small piece to be able to plant veg? I dont want to spend too much on it. Any ideas please.?

[tattiefritter]

I have sticky clay soil too and the previous owners of the house had loads of roses planted (now I know why) which I have removed as I detest roses. I dug some compost and sharp sand into some of the soil which has really helped break it up and I will be doing it to a bit more of the garden this year. The sharp sand wasn't too expensive, I think I paid about £5 for a 25kg bag from B & Q.

I grew tomatoes and courgettes in the areas that I dug the sand into and they did very well.

[Nicos]

I did the same as tattiefritter, but also in the summer- when you find the solid clumps of dry clay- I'd bash them into powder and mix them into the sand and compost better. Took a bit of effort, but slowly got there!
Oh yes...and hi there tattiefritter....

[Snadger]

Tatties normally do well on clay! Bung some organic matter (homemade compost, manure etc) into the planting trenches and the tatties will incorporate it into the soil for you!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi tattiefritter and welcome to the Vine! I live in South Ribble and have a lottie in Penwortham, near the river - fortunately the soil is lovely - not clay at all! Looking forward to hearing what you get up to and how you get on. DDL

[shine388]

i have clay in places so last year i took out the lumps that were too hard/heavy to break and then dug in compost to the remaining 'soil'.

also, as other grapes have mentioned, adding sand helps free it up (got mine by accident from the builder last year), the plants i grew seemed to like it so i didn't mind

x

[rustylady]

Instead of trying to sort out the whole plot, make beds (either raised or level) and incorporate as much organic matter (compost of manure) as you can, also sharp sand. Good luck, once you get it workable clay is one of the most productive types of soil you can get.

[tattiefritter]

Hi, I did mean to introduce myself but my boss reappeared so had to be quick!

I've been lurking for a few weeks picking up loads of information from everybody so thanks.

DexterDog - I live in Lostock Hall. I think I know where you mean - near the pub on the corner of Leyland Road (Bridge Inn I think it is). Ah, Penwortham Holme ? I realistically don't have time for an allotment to do it justice but have been given a greenhouse and have lots of plans for my garden which should keep me busy!

[NOG]

The sharp sand wasn't too expensive, I think I paid about £5 for a 25kg bag from B & Q.

If your garden is clay it may be better to go to Jewsons or another builders merchants and buy a Ton of it. It will be about £40 delivered.

[Helenclare]

I have heavy, wet clay at the moment and am gradually taking up a couple of trugs of homemade compost each time I go up to the lottie. If I incorporated the sharp sand how much would I use...my beds are 3m by 6m which is 18 sq m I think!!
Many thanks

[NOG]

you will use more than you would expect. If you got a .6ton bag (one of those big white bags with the strapping at each corner) and dug that in you probally wouldn't notice any differance.

I have been getting 12 big bin bags of cutting, grass, leaves every week for 3 years and I compost it and dig it in to my plot and its still all clay.

the more you do the better it will be for the next person to take over your plot once you have gone.

[Helenclare]

does the sand just blend into the soil, does it affect the Ph or anything like that? does it affect the plants at all? It seems strange to dig sand into the soil as sand is inert isn't it? I guess it just improved the drainage.