Clay Soil Information

The composition of clay soil makes it retain moisture and nutrients.

Soil contains a mixture of clay, sand and silt. The proportion of each determines how the soil performs in your garden. Soil heavy in clay is more densely packed than other types of soil because of the clay particle's small size.

Identification

Soil can be tested to determine the exact ratio of clay, sand and silt. You may also be able to identify clay soil by sight. Clay soil is clumpy and sticky when moist and cracks as it dries out.

Benefits

The density of clay soil helps it retain moisture. The negatively charged clay particles also attract and hold positively charged nutrients like potassium and calcium.

Disadvantages

Clay soil can be too dense for the plant's roots to penetrate. Clay soil may not be suitable for areas that get a lot of snow or rainfall in the winter because the accumulated water drains too slowly.

Improvements

Adding an organic material like compost or grass cuttings can minimize some of clay soil's disadvantages. Use a tiller to thoroughly mix the organic matter into the clay.

References

• FineGardening.com: Improving Clay Soils
• Bachmans.com: Working With Clay Soil