How to Amend Decomposed Granite

Decomposed granite is added to clay soil at a rate of 50 percent soil and 50 percent granite.

Adding decomposed granite to your garden significantly improves the amount of potassium in your soil, as well as a host of other micronutrients necessary for your plants to thrive. Decomposed granite is particularly helpful in clay soils, where it performs double duty. Not only does decomposed granite add valuable nutrients to the soil, but it also contributes much needed aeration and water absorption to soil that might otherwise be unsuitable for growing certain plants.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Garden hoe
• Garden rake

Instructions

1. Turn the soil you are going to amend with the shovel, breaking up the chunks into the smallest pieces you can.

2. Hoe the garden thoroughly until the chunks of soil are at most 1 inch in diameter. Add the decomposed granite to the top of the turned soil. The ideal mixture for the decomposed granite is a 50/50 ratio, but you can estimate the need without having to be precise.

3. Hoe the substances together until they are thoroughly mixed. Smooth the surface using a garden rake.

Tips & Warnings

• Determine your necessary soil amendments by bringing a sample of your soil to a local nursery, where the soil can be tested.

References

• "Rodale's Vegetable Garden Problem Solver"; Fern Bradley; 2007
• "The Vegetable Gardener's Bible"; Edward Smith; 2009
• "Better Homes and Gardens New Garden Book"; Better Homes and Gardens; 2005