[Community_garden] Tossing clay
Paul Buechler
pbuechler1 at bigplanet.com
Thu Mar 27 19:02:11 EDT 2008
Here in northeast Dallas,Tx we have alot of black clay.
I use a 2" layer of expanded shale and a 2" layer of cotton burr compost.
The shale improves drainage for a very long time and the porous nature of
shale holds moisture in drought conditions as well as air when the soil
would otherwise be waterlogged.
Then top dress with 2" of your favorite mulch.
Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: "Harold Haas" <harold.haas at gmail.com>
To: "Mike McGrath" <MikeMcG at ptd.net>
Cc: "Ray Schutte" <rayschutte at comcast.net>;
<community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>; "Susannah Evans"
<susannahevans at hotmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 1:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Tossing clay
>
> I agree. Clay is good soil; full of valuable minerals and nutrition. The
> clay is so tightly bound that it will not give up the nutriants easily.
> The
> compost and gypsun [ I have used old seet-rock tillered in the garden ...
> some call sheet-rock' "gypsun board"] anyways it helps loosen the clay
> platelets up so they give of their richness. Work organics into the soil
> and watch it grow a great garden!
> Harold Haas
> On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 12:03 PM, Mike McGrath <MikeMcG at ptd.net> wrote:
>
>> I only remove the big clumps of stuff that are better suited to making
>> pots
>> than growing plants.
>>
>> Although almost total excavation IS the prime advice in Mel Bartholomew's
>> Square Foot system....
>>
>> ----McG
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Ray Schutte" <rayschutte at comcast.net>
>> To: "'Mike McGrath'" <MikeMcG at PTD.net>; "'Susannah Evans'"
>> <susannahevans at hotmail.com>; <community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 1:01 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Soil Amendments
>>
>>
>> > Why remove soil that is full of valuable minerals and nutrition. Mix
>> > it
>> > with the compost and gypsum, It is some work but no more than removing
>> > the
>> > clay. I have successfully done this and the resulting garden was well
>> > worth the time. It will be a few years before you can grow great
>> carrots,
>> > but you can condition an area for that. Keep in mind sandy loam one of
>> > the
>> > most desired soils is clay based. The best advice has been to add
>> organic
>> > material, add organic material and add organic material. You will
>> admire
>> > the results.
>> >
>> > Ray Schutte
>> >
>> > "The truth of the matter is that the flower has cleverly manipulated
>> > the
>> > bee
>> > into hauling its pollen from blossom to blossom." The Botany of Desire,
>> > Michael Pollan
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: community_garden-bounces at list.communitygarden.org
>> > [mailto:community_garden-bounces at list.communitygarden.org] On Behalf Of
>> > Mike
>> > McGrath
>> > Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 8:29 AM
>> > To: Susannah Evans; community_garden at list.communitygarden.org
>> > Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Soil Amendments
>> >
>> > What Ken said: Get a big load or two of compost and/or well aged
>> mushroom
>> > soil delivered.
>> > I'll add that physical removal of large deposits of clay is very
>> effective
>> > and emotionally satisfying.
>> > forget the gypsum--all the books recommend it, but in 30 years I have
>> yet
>> > to
>> >
>> > hear a farmer or gardener say it worked as promised. And 10-10-10 id
>> pure
>> > unbalanced garbage.
>> >
>> > Remove as much clay as you can, mix in lots of good compost and you
>> won't
>> > need any added food the first year.
>> > ---Mike McG
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Susannah Evans" <susannahevans at hotmail.com>
>> > To: <community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>
>> > Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 1:12 PM
>> > Subject: [Community_garden] Soil Amendments
>> >
>> >
>> > We have a communal community garden in Columbus, OH - 40' by 80' with a
>> > clay
>> >
>> > based soil. Our group has had several conversations about amending the
>> > soil
>> > to help break down the clay. Gypsum was suggested and I was wondering
>> > if
>> > there was a good source of gypsum that would be considered organic? We
>> are
>> > not a completely organic operation, but we try to consider everything
>> > we
>> > add
>> >
>> > to the soil to make the best decision. Also, we are interested in
>> starting
>> > some of our vegetables within the next month. Would gypsum be ok to
>> apply
>> > now and till in or should it be applied in the fall.
>> >
>> > It was also suggested to add some 10-10-10 fertilizer to boost the
>> > soil.
>> > We
>> > are going to have a soil test done soon to see if we have specific pH
>> > or
>> > nutrient deficiencies. Any recommendations on some good organic soil
>> > amendments that could be added in the spring (or suggestions for
>> > fall?).
>> > We
>> > are looking to grow potatoes, tomatoes, green peppers, zucchini, bush
>> > beans,
>> >
>> > lima beans, peas, lettuce, broccoli and celery.
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> > Susannah Evans
>> > Epworth Veggie Garden
>> > Columbus, OH
>> > _________________________________________________________________
>> > Watch "Cause Effect," a show about real people making a real
>> > difference.
>> > Learn more.
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>> The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of
>> ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and
>> to
>> find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org
>>
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