Clay type soil

Welsh_Totster

Not long moved house and in the new place the soil is quite claggy and clay. It's thick and when it dries it cracks. I've never gardened in clay before so it's all a bit of a mystery to me.

I'm tackling the front garden first which at the mo is full of weeds with a few tulips and grape hyacinths popping through here and there. I'd like to plant in my ornamental grasses that I brought with me from my old garden that are currently in tubs, then mulch around with pebbles.

Would it be a good idea once weeded, to dig in some compost to lighten the soil a bit or is there something else I need to do to make it more manageable?

Ta:)

Kimitatsu

We have very heavy clay soil (lovely soil as its had nothing done with it for 10 years but heavy) so as we clear the beds we dig in sharp sand and compost so lighten it up. The farms around here do the same for the wheat fields so I knew it would work!

The best time to do it really is the autums but if you have just moved in then I would start it now.

Welsh_Totster

Thanks Kimitatsu, Sharp sand and compost it is then (once Ive weeded it all!)

Wookey

You will find also that the elements will help a lot in breaking it down, once the top portion easily crumbles in your hand fork thru it and bring any heavy lumps to the surface, rinse and repeat this a few times whilst adding organic matter and you should have a very nice soil within 6 months.

Welsh_Totster

Thanks Wookey, much appreciated input! The previous ownvers have left 2 decent sized composters that are full, so Im going to brave a look and see if theres anything in there thats useable. Its a start anyway!

Lotus-eater

As well as the previous advice, I have used leaf compost on my heavy soil and had great success with it, you need alot of it though,.... I mean really alot, leaves compost down to a fraction of their initial bulk.

Welsh_Totster

Thanks Lotus Eater. As I have two compost bins may its worth me having two lots of compost on the go, one which is leafy and the other which is everything else. Ive got a large back garden with a few trees in so Im sure I could manage it, and it would improve the soil on an ongoing basis over the years too. great advice, thanks

Lotus-eater

If you've got some large trees, it could be perfect for you then, doesn't come quick though.
This Autumn gather up as many leaves as you can and either make a large leaf pile (I use a chicken wire cage), or you can stuff them into bin liners.
If you have a shredder, it makes them compost much faster, add urine when you can and you could have decent leaf compost in a year. Does depend on the type of leaf though.
Adding grass clippings and mixing them in, helps alot as well.

You might even be able to find piles of leaves in the garden now, worth collecting them up.

Welsh_Totster

I have 3 decent sized trees and my next door neighbour has 5 large trees, 3 of which are on our boundary so Im bound to get leaf drop in my patch from them. We also have a large lawn so it seems I have the makings of some decent compost to help the soil without leaving the garden! We have a garden vac that sucks and shreds would that be ok?

I know it takes time, and Im going to see what compost is in the 2 bins at the mo. Mr WT said he would help and pee on them for me lol!

Lotus-eater

The garden vac sounds perfect, I've always found people are more than happy for you to dispose of their bags of garden leaves. Just asking around may yield more than you can believe.
I don't think you can ever have too many leaves. You wouldn't believe the amount I collect.

Welsh_Totster

In our last house we had a huge sycamore and I used to collect around 25 black bags full of leaves for our neighbours composting as I didnt really need it. She was always over the moon with tonnes of leaves!

We do have a local council garden waste collection every fortnight but I think the only stuff going in there will be what I cant get into the compost bins!