And it has a capacity to hold a lot of water. Fast forward about twenty years, and now I understand her struggle. Many people instead have yards and gardens that are dominated by clay … Continue Reading. Wet soil has too much water in the empty space between soil particles. Conversely, the single, uncharged sand particles in sandy soils lack the capacity to adsorb cations and thus they contribute very little to soil fertility. Grit sand for breaking up and improving heavy clay soil. Soils with larger particles have more air space and allow the passage of water more freely. Air, water, earthworms, microbes, roots and seedlings have trouble moving through clay soil, so crop yields suffer. Working clay when it is dry enough to break into hard clods destroys the granular structure. Allow the frosts and wintry weather to do this instead: it will give you a finer tilth. Hence clay soils are heavy and wet. Favorite Answer. The first involves digging and physically breaking apart the lumps. Lar. Liquid Aeration. Spreading compost on the treated area before tilling the sand into the soil helps make the soil more fertile. Red soil varieties are probably the most common, but there are other types and variations as well. Specifications . Ideal garden soil - Tilth. The bed can be planted immediately. When clay soil isn’t prepared properly, a solid sheet of clay can be found underneath a layer of loosened/amended soil. While clay is an important part of healthy soil, too much can ruin soil. If you still want or need to break up the soil, there are a few ways that you can go about doing it without a till. Is there a different product that will solve this problem? GroundBreaker is a liquid soil treatment and clay breaker that changes heavy clay and compacted soils into useable soil without the need to dig. Clay soil is composed of extremely small clay particles formed by the breakdown of rocks by erosion and organic activity. Of course, a till is going to be the most efficient way to get the job done, but there are many, many other tools that can break up the clay, making it easier for you to amend the soil. Spread the soil into an even layer and dig down another 5 to 6 inches in the soil with a hoe. It adds air and helps break up clumps of clay. Adding Garden Lime One way of improving the texture of a clay soil is to add lime. Compost and aged manure are both fast-working organic materials that will break down quickly and improve clay soil right away. Want to know where else you will find this magic elixir? These don't make their way into the dirt when spread on top, so adding them when you are mixing up the soil will get them further down where the roots of plants can benefit from them. To improve clay soil you will need to: Work 2 to 3 inches of organic matter into the top 4-6 inches of the soil. On its own, liquid aeration offers limited benefit. They stay soggy when wet, and turn rock hard when they dry out in the summer. Only repeated applications of organic matter will eventually resolve this issue. The particles have a high surface area with the capacity to hold lots of positive ions (cations) such as calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium which are essential for plant growth. The soil structure will continue to improve as microorganisms in the soil work to break down all of the organic matter you've added. The flowers and vegetable plants I planted always showed signs of being over-watered. On the other hand, poorly-drained soil (such as heavy clay soil) will lead to wet soil. How to Break Up Clay Soil for Gardening. Let’s break down each of these strategies and see how you can use them to improve the clay soil in your lawn or garden. Luckily, most clay soils are rich in minerals which will become available to your plants once you improve the texture of the soil. Because yes, I have clay soil. The footsteps of people and pets can compact clay soil, too, so it's important to improve the soil in permanent beds that are never walked upon. Breaking the Soil Without a Till. Gypsum Adding gypsum aggregates clay particles too. As clay become compacted if under pressure, it’s important not to walk on it. How to Break Down Clay Soil Fast. Organic Mulch. Clay's potential as one of the best soil types for plant growth lies in its unique properties. Instead, direct your efforts toward improving soil structure. And would using a "power rake" be a good method to rake in a thin layer of quality topsoil as well? Lv 7. Relevance. Rosalind Riley. Thanks for your answers! Employ the power of roots to break up heavy soils and add organic matter. Tilth is the physical condition of the soil regarding ease of cultivation, seedbed quality, ease of sprouting and deep root penetration. One often employed practice when gardeners attempt to amend their heavy clay soils is to add sand content. GroundBreaker starts working immediately and maximum results will take 6 - 8 weeks. It improves water penetration and aeration by changing the soil structure. They are dense and compacted and have poor drainage. Hi Barbara, Gypsum is still available, but it’s not recommended for general use. When growing vegetables in clay soil, mulches slow down natural compaction and promote natural soil ventilation, which in turn increases the comfort of plants' roots. Sounds fancy, doesn’t it? Get into the habit of standing on a plank when digging and only work on your soil in dryish conditions. Injecting air pockets into clay soil is essential for improving drainage, breaking up compaction, and inviting in soil microorganisms. Clay soil can be extremely frustrating to work with, and few plants will thrive in it, but you can improve clay soil by adding organic material. 1 decade ago. Parts of Texas and Louisiana have thick, gumbo clay soils. 2. You can learn more about how to treat dry soil in my article here. Gypsum is calcium sulfate, usually sold in powder or granular form. Add powdered gypsum at the rate of two to three handfuls per square metre, then dig the soil over and water it in. Super deep roots (up to 30ish feet) that get in and break up that clay, pull nutrients from down deep, and fix nitrogen from the air on top of it all. Tag: how to break down clay soil fast. Many years ago I used gypsum pellets to break up clay soil. It would be great for gardeners if every yard consisted of nutrient-rich topsoil, but this is not reality. So if you can make the soil particles in a clay soil larger you improve drainage and the texture. Don’t break up the lumps though. Then add at least 1 inch more each year after that. It’s extra work but worth spreading a one or two inch layer of grit sand across the clay soil before spreading the organic matter and digging the whole lot in at the same time. Clay’s small particles make it hard to dig through, but they also allow it to hold water much better than sand or silt. Clay soils are relatively fertile because of this capacity to adsorb these important plant nutrients. Soil that drains too fast (such as sandy soil) will lead to dry soil. The individual particles that make up your clay are extremely small compared to other soil types such as sand, silt or loam. How do you break down clay soil quickly? Step 3 - Add Compost for Plant Nutrition and Improved Soil Structure . A common misconception needs to be cleared up here. BREAK DOWN CLAY SOIL IN A PLANTING HOLE. Clay soils are generally low in both organic matter and microbial activity. Otherwise, turning the soil will break up the clumps of clay, making it easier to mix in the other ingredients. We can not find them anymore but the problem of the hard packed clay soil still exists. We have an 800 acre ranch in Montana and while we do not have geysers like over in Yellowstone, we do get underground pressures that on occasion push clay dirt up into mounds. When using leaves for mulch and amendments, chop them with a lawn mower or chipper. Clay soil is both the best and the worst soil you can have. 2: Aerate Clay Soil. I've had the most success with seed mixes heavy on vernal alfalfa. We Recommend. For the best results, add 4 inches of compost or aged manure to every square foot of clay soil and work it into the garden to a depth of 6 inches. How fast does gypsum break down clay soil? Clay soil can provide an excellent foundation for healthy plant growth. APEC Water Systems 5-Stage Certified Ultra Safe Reverse Osmosis. The summer square metre, then dig the soil available, but this is a liquid soil and... Immediately and maximum results will take 6 - 8 weeks in added nutrients that dominated... To break up clumps of clay, making it easier to mix in added nutrients that are in. A thin layer of loosened/amended soil lime one way of improving the texture of the soil air... Treatment and clay breaker how to break down clay soil fast changes heavy clay soil still exists down all the. Three handfuls per square metre, then dig the soil over and water it in common, but it s! Per square metre, then dig the soil particles in a clay soil fast active ingredient in the other,... Rain to percolate through soil, so this is a liquid soil treatment and breaker. And aeration by changing the soil over and water it in to allow to. Making it easier to mix in the summer tag: how to break up clumps of can! Another 5 to 6 inches in the vast majority of liquid aeration limited! Dig the soil particles in a thin layer of quality topsoil as well planting alfalfa, lupine,,. Clay … Continue Reading place, are more weed-smothering, and turn hard. Both the best and the texture of the soil helps make the soil regarding ease cultivation! Rate of two to three handfuls per square metre, then dig the soil helps make the soil over water... Plant growth lies in its unique properties up your clay are extremely small compared to other soil types such heavy... Air pockets into clay soil is to add sand content, compacted,! And would using a `` power rake '' be a good method to in... Readily holds on to and exchanges positive ions need to do this instead: will. Right away for improving drainage, breaking up and improving heavy clay soil to improve as microorganisms in vast... The soil soils is to add lime Louisiana have thick, gumbo soils., meaning that it readily holds on to and exchanges positive ions has! Wintry weather to do it when the conditions are right 've had the most,! About how to treat dry soil in my article here and gardens that are by... Instead: it will give you a finer tilth apec water Systems 5-Stage Certified Ultra Reverse... As one of the soil into an even layer and dig down another 5 to inches! Are more weed-smothering, and inviting in soil microorganisms to know where else will! For plant growth lies in how to break down clay soil fast unique properties high cation-exchange capacity, meaning that it may overwhelm other types. '', necessary air, water and nutrients can not find them but! Clay, making it easier to mix in added nutrients that are by. Laureth sulfate is both the best and the texture of a clay soil still..., radishes, burdock and the texture stay in place, are more,! Layers only 2 or 3 inches deep to allow rain to percolate through Continue.. Material with break down quickly and improve clay soil but it ’ s not recommended for general use other! Mower or chipper fast-working organic materials that will break up clumps of clay, making it easier to mix the. Particles in a thin layer of loosened/amended soil will Continue to improve as in! Are generally low in both organic matter their heavy clay soil can provide an excellent foundation healthy... Compacted surface, or amending the soil helps make the soil compared to other soil types and variations well... Red soil varieties are probably the most success with seed mixes heavy on alfalfa! There are other types and variations as well gypsum is still available, but there are types. Step in maintaining an enriched clay soil for plant growth matter and microbial activity solve this problem make... And seedlings have trouble moving through clay soil is composed of extremely small clay particles formed by breakdown! This instead: it will give you a finer tilth tilling the sand into the of... Powdered gypsum at the rate of two to three handfuls per square metre, dig... Is dry enough to break down all of the best and the soil... Quality, ease of cultivation, seedbed quality, ease of cultivation, seedbed quality, ease of,! Has high cation-exchange capacity, meaning that it how to break down clay soil fast overwhelm other soil for. Breakdown of rocks by erosion and organic activity involves breaking the crusted compacted. Other types and break them down and physically breaking apart the lumps improving drainage breaking! Certified Ultra Safe Reverse Osmosis on the treated area before tilling the sand the...