i have a very sunny and secure area to use this year but when i dug my holes i discovered the soil is mostly clay. i dug 4 holes measuring 3 ft across by 3 ft deep and i planned on filling with amended potting soil until i seen that the holes hold water about 8 hrs before being drained.im concerned about root rot and want to know any solutions or is it safe to plant here if i watch my watering schedule? i do have an option of using those 20+ gallon sized laundry tubs but i want a larger plant in-ground if i can pull it off......help?
What to do in heavy clay soil?
- Thread starter trybud
- Start date
cannakid
Member
ya im havin the same sort of problem, exept their wher layers of solid clay and a sort of gravel material. i figured with the gravel material being under the 2 foot layer of clay it might have a bit of drainage to it, but i didnt even think about filling it with water to see.
really what i did was dig about as big a whole as you discribed and filled it with FF ocian forest soil, watered it halfway when filling and heavily when done but really all i gave it is FF big bloom (mainly because its got little NPK content and major bat and worm shit in their) and a drop of superthrive. im also worried about possible root rot down the road, but inificiant drainage also leads to buildups of certen salts and what not.
really what i did was dig about as big a whole as you discribed and filled it with FF ocian forest soil, watered it halfway when filling and heavily when done but really all i gave it is FF big bloom (mainly because its got little NPK content and major bat and worm shit in their) and a drop of superthrive. im also worried about possible root rot down the road, but inificiant drainage also leads to buildups of certen salts and what not.
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How about something simulating a raised bed? That way you could use your potting soil and know that the plant is getting good drainage for at least the top part of the roots.
I have clay soil. I don't grow mj in it, but I do garden. Nearly everything does just fine. Remember, mj will grow like a weed in nearly any environment. It's hardy stuff.
Good luck!
onus
I have clay soil. I don't grow mj in it, but I do garden. Nearly everything does just fine. Remember, mj will grow like a weed in nearly any environment. It's hardy stuff.
Good luck!
onus
krustytheclown
Member
I had the same problem a few years back. You have 2 options:
1) Dig a hole and remove the dirt/clay. Then replace it with good soil (i.e., potting soil mixed with perlite/vermiculite/coco husk at a 70/30 ratio). The bigger the hole, the bigger the plant. the root system will only grow as big as the hole; the clay will prevent the root system from getting bigger.
2) Use pots.
Either way, it's the same effect. Just don't try to grow it in the clay.
Good luck and happy growing!
1) Dig a hole and remove the dirt/clay. Then replace it with good soil (i.e., potting soil mixed with perlite/vermiculite/coco husk at a 70/30 ratio). The bigger the hole, the bigger the plant. the root system will only grow as big as the hole; the clay will prevent the root system from getting bigger.
2) Use pots.
Either way, it's the same effect. Just don't try to grow it in the clay.
Good luck and happy growing!
G
Guest
You can also fix the clay...
1 part clay
1 part well aged manure
1 part sand.
Seed
1 part clay
1 part well aged manure
1 part sand.
Seed
onus said:
that sounds like a good idea, raised beds... heck, now that you have the holes dug and everything, you can even make the raised beds on top of those holes filled with amended soil, the roots will have tons of space to go down and most likely big plants will result.
btw, yeah, do not add sand!!! nor manure if it is not well composted.
peace.
If your looking to use the soil from the site, ide ammend with gypsum, perlite, and some type of soiless mix (Coco or pro mix). Gypsum is used to slightly lower the PH and to improve drainage by enabling harmful levels of sodum to leach out of a the root zone. It aslo helps improve heavy clay soils by loosening them. just my .02
G
Guest
Hi Fast Pine,Fast Pine said:NEVER MIX SAND WITH CLAY!!!
Unless yer tryin to build a house or BRICKS!!
I'll assume you are new to gardening and experianced at masonry.
You should study up on proper soil tilth before you put your 2 cents in. I have been gardening probably since you were breathing. I can back this up if you like?
Besides...since when do you put an equall part of manure in brick? Enlighten me.
Seed
PS-I grow this lettuce in a brick.
G
Guest
Sorry Bartender...I missed your post.
I agree with the gypsum all the way. It also improves soil tilth. It makes a crystaline soil...adds structure that creates pockets that will hold air, water and nutes.
Seed
I agree with the gypsum all the way. It also improves soil tilth. It makes a crystaline soil...adds structure that creates pockets that will hold air, water and nutes.
Seed
^^
guys listen to SS, he knows his stuff.
looks like some tasty brick lettuce
guys listen to SS, he knows his stuff.
looks like some tasty brick lettuce
Fast Pine
Active member
Spreading Seed said:Hi Fast Pine,
I'll assume you are new to gardening and experianced at masonry.
You should study up on proper soil tilth before you put your 2 cents in. I have been gardening probably since you were breathing. I can back this up if you like?
Besides...since when do you put an equall part of manure in brick? Enlighten me.
Seed
PS-I grow this lettuce in a brick.
Word...
Assume all u want...Ive been gardening for 22 years
..Id suggest gathering some resources on this one ,little buddy..
Adding gravel and/or sand to a hole for drainage can be self-defeating. Because of the physics of soil particles and the physical properties of water, a layer of "drainage material" can actually cause water to become trapped above the layer of gravel. This is especially true in clay soils. It sounds counter-intuitive but the very fine particles in clay will hold water above the coarse gravel and the water will not be able to drain into the gravel until the clay has reached its holding capacity.
Working organic matter into the soil is the best way to improve the drainage of heavy soils. Mounding the planting site slightly will also aid in drainage.
Need More?
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G
Guest
I haven't read the entire thread but I can reccomend from experience; gypsum and a tiller.
G
Guest
Fast Pine said:
that about sums it up.
organic matter is the cure for anything that may be wrong with soil.
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G
Guest
Hi Fastpine,
Since you are an experianced gardener I'll guess you know the main ingrediants of loam. Loam is the most prefered of all garden soils.
clay
sand
silt
organic matter
Care to argue this fact?
Seed
Since you are an experianced gardener I'll guess you know the main ingrediants of loam. Loam is the most prefered of all garden soils.
clay
sand
silt
organic matter
Care to argue this fact?
Seed
Hunt4Hazez
Member
if its really bad... I suggest digging about a 3 gallon hole or more if your ambitious for each plant mix up some soil with the clay 1 for every 2 parts mabey? loosen up the dirt at the bottom of the hole so the roots can dig, and pour a beer in each hole? Good luck.
Fast Pine
Active member
Nope..Spreading Seed said:
The issue here is adding sand to heavy clay soil, to "supposidly" improve the soil quality...
Theres very little heavy clay in a true loam soil....Especially in bagged organic soil from the gardencenter...
The ingredients are also mixed togeather already in loam. the small ammnts of sand and clay are evenly mixed with tha organic matter an silt..
Have ya ever mixed sand with clay, and seen what ya get after it drys out?
G
Guest
I have never mixed sand with just clay...I can agree with you that it probably would make bricks BUT, you are ignoring the 3rd ingrediant...manure...an equal part, which adds up to alot.
I also know that it depends on how heavy the clay is. I deal with the red clay that plagues many Americans. I also deal with the grey slippery shitty clay that is hard to bust.
Good debate,
Seed
I also know that it depends on how heavy the clay is. I deal with the red clay that plagues many Americans. I also deal with the grey slippery shitty clay that is hard to bust.
Good debate,
Seed
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