How to Garden in Black Clay Soil in Texas

Sun-baked, heavy black clay soil is difficult to grow in without help from compost.

Texas land is primarily comprised of material called black clay soil. This soil is exceedingly difficult to cultivate in without any added compost material to help loosen it up. The heavy black clay soil of Texas is compacted with poor drainage characteristics. While using the black clay soil by on its own can reduce crop productions, there are steps that will significantly improve the black clay soil's ability to produce garden plants.

Things You'll Need

• Soil testing kit
• Sulfur and peat moss
• Weed barrier
• Garden U-pins
• Rototiller or shovel
• Rake
• Mulch
• Liquid organic fertilizer (such as compost tea)

Instructions

1. Begin preparing and testing the Texas black clay soil two to three months before desired planting time. This will ensure the proper pH levels for the selected garden site. Be sure to choose a garden site that receives six to eight hours of the full sun. Choose a slightly elevated and leveled garden site to eliminate all risk of flooding when the rain starts.

2. Till the earth with a rototiller down to at least 6 inches in depth. Run the tiller back and forth until the ground is workable. Remove any extensive grass roots, weeds, rocks and other debris from the area.

3. Use a soil test kit, found in many garden centers, to test the pH levels of the garden soil. A good, average soil pH is 6.0 to 6.9. Dig several small soil samples from around the garden area and blend together to screen as one. Texas black clay soil is on the higher range of the pH scale and requires the addition of certain compost material to stabilize.

4. Spread compost material such as sulfur and peat moss on top of the Texas black clay soil. Dig these amendments into the broken and tilled soil. Rake the soil to level out the garden site. Test the soil pH at least every two weeks until the level is between 6.0 to 6.9.

5. Spread a layer of weed barrier on top of the prepared garden bed and stick down using garden U-pins. Place all plant containers on top of the weed barrier in the desired planting spots. Take into account the mature growth height of every plant to avoid taller plants overshadowing shorter ones. Make X-shaped slits in the weed barrier and remove the plants from their containers. Place each plant in its designated space. Cover the roots with the garden soil so that the plant base is even with the top of the soil.

6. Spread a 3-inch mound of mulch around the base of each plant and water thoroughly. Apply an organic liquid fertilizer to the leaves and bottom of each plant. Effective organic fertilizers include compost tea, which is manure soaked in water for one to two weeks. This tea can be sprayed onto the plants once every week.

References

• United States Department of Agriculture: Houston Black Clay Soil
• Improve Your Garden Soil: Use of Sulfur to Lower pH