Organic Gardening - Interesting Facts on Clay Soil
Clay soil is unique and has many remarkable characteristics.
In it's pure form, it is the best choice for growing plants.
Due to natural plasticity of clay, it is a soil that can be easily amended or used as a soil amendment.
Clay, sand, silt and loam are the four main types of soil.
Clay and sand being the two are completely opposite and loam being the ideal choice for plant growth.
Clay is a soil that has a very fine particle size, unlike sand.
Because of these fine particles, the particles will bind together with other clay particles tightly, forming a surface that is impermeable, resistant to water seepage.
Although when talking about clay, the first thing to come to mind is an inorganic soil that is very dense.
Natural organic clay soil mixtures are not uncommon.
They are usually from a sedimentary deposit that has been eroded fro a higher elevation and deposited in low lying areas, like a valley or an area of intermittent water flows.
As these transported to these low lying areas, they mix with organic material on they way.
These deposits of organic clay are usually darker in color and have layers of organic matter, decomposed plant matter, mixed into it.
Clay is a soil that most wouldn't think of as a good choice for a garden.
It is mostly know for it construction abilities, like building berms for flood control to a material used for making bricks.
It does have it's benefits in the garden too, when amended properly.
Amending a clay soil for your gardens can be easily done by mixing in an organic matter.
There are many organic amendments that can be used to improve the structure of clay soil, compost or organic material that decomposes quickly are the best choice.
When adding compost as an organic soil amendment to clay, you will need to place between a 3 to 4 inch layer over the area and digging it into the soil to a depth of at least 6 inches.
this process may need to be done over more than one season, usually two.
After the second season you can usually cut back to just adding a 2 to th3 inch layer every year after.
Once you start the amendment process, you will need to keep a close watch when watering your plants.
With heavy soils like clay, they will drain slowly and can cause a bowl effect, this can harm plants when they sit in water to long.
In it's pure form, it is the best choice for growing plants.
Due to natural plasticity of clay, it is a soil that can be easily amended or used as a soil amendment.
Clay, sand, silt and loam are the four main types of soil.
Clay and sand being the two are completely opposite and loam being the ideal choice for plant growth.
Clay is a soil that has a very fine particle size, unlike sand.
Because of these fine particles, the particles will bind together with other clay particles tightly, forming a surface that is impermeable, resistant to water seepage.
Although when talking about clay, the first thing to come to mind is an inorganic soil that is very dense.
Natural organic clay soil mixtures are not uncommon.
They are usually from a sedimentary deposit that has been eroded fro a higher elevation and deposited in low lying areas, like a valley or an area of intermittent water flows.
As these transported to these low lying areas, they mix with organic material on they way.
These deposits of organic clay are usually darker in color and have layers of organic matter, decomposed plant matter, mixed into it.
Clay is a soil that most wouldn't think of as a good choice for a garden.
It is mostly know for it construction abilities, like building berms for flood control to a material used for making bricks.
It does have it's benefits in the garden too, when amended properly.
Amending a clay soil for your gardens can be easily done by mixing in an organic matter.
There are many organic amendments that can be used to improve the structure of clay soil, compost or organic material that decomposes quickly are the best choice.
When adding compost as an organic soil amendment to clay, you will need to place between a 3 to 4 inch layer over the area and digging it into the soil to a depth of at least 6 inches.
this process may need to be done over more than one season, usually two.
After the second season you can usually cut back to just adding a 2 to th3 inch layer every year after.
Once you start the amendment process, you will need to keep a close watch when watering your plants.
With heavy soils like clay, they will drain slowly and can cause a bowl effect, this can harm plants when they sit in water to long.
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