{"id":6722,"date":"2015-05-08T16:29:14","date_gmt":"2015-05-08T15:29:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/?p=6722"},"modified":"2015-09-07T15:17:58","modified_gmt":"2015-09-07T14:17:58","slug":"improving-clay-soils","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.justlawnmowers.co.uk\/blog\/improving-clay-soils\/","title":{"rendered":"Improving Clay Soils"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clay soil can be quite a challenge for growing plants and for\u00a0gardeners. However improving clay soils can be done if you follow these tips.<\/p>\n

Identifying clay soil:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Clay soil is any type of soil which has a high percentage of clay particles in it. Clays will feel slightly sticky and dense, but they will also feel quite smooth when a piece is rubbed between your finger and thumb. This type of soil is very slow to drain, quick to harden and difficult to use for anything but the hardiest of plants. Another way of identifying clay soil is to take a moist fragment of it in your hands and see if it can be rolled up into a ball and then into a sausage shape with no cracking. If you successfully managed to roll your soil into the sausage shape, you can rub the moist surface and if it becomes shiny, it is likely that your soil has very high clay particles and can be called a heavy clay.<\/p>\n

Gardening with clay Soil:<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you have come to the conclusion that your lawn does have clay soil, then remember that even some of the best gardens thrive on heavy clay soil, such as\u00a0Christopher Lloyd\u2019s Great Dixter in East Sussex and RHS Rosemoor in Devon.<\/p>\n

Clay soils works best with wooded plants such as trees and shrubs, however if you are wanting to plant finely divided foliage, it is important to dig in lots of coarse grit and create raised beds that are higher than the ground so that any water can easily drain away.
\nAfter a heavy rain pour, it is advisable to not walk on your lawn at all as it will completely lose its structure, become puddled and very compacted. It can be\u00a0advisable to invest in some form of garden path or stepping stones to avoid damaging the clay.<\/p>\n

The best time of year to dig with clay soil is autumn and early winter when the ground is still relatively dry.\u00a0Once wetted by winter rains, clay soils often cannot be worked or walked on until mid-spring.<\/p>\n

Winter frosts can be beneficial to clay and can gradually break it down. During winter, if digging is required it is recommended to dig the clay into narrow ridges to allow for more frost activity and increased drainage.<\/p>\n

It is recommended to avoid planting and sowing too early, unless drainage can be improved by making raised beds or the ground warmed and dried in advance.<\/p>\n

If you plant woody plants on a light mound, about 25cm\/10″, then it caan help to avoid any root damage from clay soil water logging.\u00a0If planting trees, shrubs and climbers, then it is best done when soils are dry and workable in the early autumn.\u00a0However\u00a0early vegetables are a challenge on clay soils, main crop vegetables are usually heavy yielding and potentially of outstanding quality.\u00a0Tree fruits generally thrive on clay soils, although some soft fruits can be\u00a0more trouble.<\/p>\n

Improving clay soil:<\/strong><\/p>\n