heavy clay

[Ladygardener]

I decided to dig a new flower bed out of the lawn (swamp) today. I thought I could use it for both flowers and veg. But When I'd dug all the grass off I found I have only about 4 inches of soil and underneath that is red muck!!!!! awful stuff, now what should I do. I thought if I put loads of bags of compost on top it should be ok for growing plants but not crops am I right? I'm sure I read somewhere not to dig into the red muck it's like toffee.

[Chuckles]

Oh dear LNG not a nice find

You can improve it with compost or well rotted manure, I guess the depth you improve depends on what the root length is on what you want to grow.

I've not had to deal with it personally bit I'm sure there are folk on here that have and will tell you how they dealt with it

[jean]

Sounds like you might need to leave the digging for a while LNG, its far to wet to do anything useful yet. My garden is clay, though not red, and there are loads of big stones that keep appearing too. I've added compost, manure and grit which has helped, on a happy note clay soils are fertile soils

[Shrubrose]

Hi LNG we have heavy clay here too! I've just started to 'work' it (about a year ago). I took all the top stuff off and got a couple of tons of grit sand (it was quite a large space to deal with) which I dug in and tried to turn over, breaking the clay into pieces. I left it through the winter, as frost will help break it down, along with the sand. I didn't put any manure into it as I understand this retains moisture. I then bought some topsoil in the spring and spread this over the top. It's been far too wet to dig it over again so I'm hoping for a good spell of dry weather so that I can dig it over again. We also put a drain in to help take excess water away.

I wouldn't do anything until the weather improves as working on any sort of soil when it's wet/sodden tends to compact it thus removing the air and adding to the problem.

Good luck with it. It is a b****r to deal with but hopefully in a few years it'll be good stuff. As jlo says it's full of nutrients! ;D

I

[Ladygardener]

Thanks a million for your advice, I was in a bit of a panic yesterday.It's poured with rain overnight and the water is all laying there now it's like a moat. I'd absolutely forgotten how I've made all my other flower beds 6 years ago when I moved here but it's all coming back to me now. I've put dozens of bags of compost on my other flower beds to get them to a stage where it's possible to grow lots plants and they've done really well and never get waterlogged anymore. Can I compost the turfs I've removed or should I just stick them back down again and wait another few months?

[Weeterrier]

Don't worry, my clay garden was the best I ever had, with the benefit that by working it, I was the fittest I have ever been. Follow all advice given, and you will one day think you are one of the lucky ones. Water will collect while it is still unworked. I was able to make a pond, without the need for a liner.

[Ladygardener]

funny you should mention pond this morning WT I was just looking at it and thinking about a pond ;D thank goodness I have friends here who can make me smile instead of having a panic attack.

[Shrubrose]

You can compost your turves LNG. Do you have a spot in the garden where you can leave them to break down? Turn them over, grass side down and stack them this way one on top of the other and let nature do the rest. Easy!

[Ladygardener]

thanks Shrub, that's what I'll do glad to be able to put them to some kind of use.. I do have lots of worms in the grass

[Weeterrier]

ladynovicegardener said:

funny you should mention pond this morning WT I was just looking at it and thinking about a pond ;D thank goodness I have friends here who can make me smile instead of having a panic attack.

That's good!! ;D

[Dutchy]

;D

Breaker sand, Lady Novice.
Good compost is fine but to change the goo into workable first dig in lots of breaker sand and later add the compost.

Now? just enjoy what looks like your new pond.
Sit back , relax , get a garden book on how to make a pond or border and enjoy planning whilst waiting for the first ducks to arrive in your red lined puddle pond

[Ladygardener]

;D Don't know what I'd do without you guys, you've all been great. Thanks for smashing advice all of you. Is breaker sand the heavy coarse sand Dutchy?? I'll be patient and wait until the weather dries up a little before adding any sand or compost. It's unbelievable how much water is just laying there.

[Ladygardener]

just a little update to say the new bed is looking really good. the clay is well broken down and I've added bags of compost and manure, did'nt manage to get any sand but it's still good. I'll be using it to plant the courgette and peas. already have the shallots in one part of it which is not as good as the rest but will get there. ;D thanks again everyone.

[Barbara]

potatoes are good for breaking clay soil up into nice workable stuff

[Shrubrose]

Great news LNG. Now that you've learned the knack what about a 'holiday' of sorts over in sunny Lancs in a certain Shrub's clay plot? ;D

[Weeterrier]

You are well on the way to loving your clay

[Ladygardener]

Not quite ready for potatoes yet but Barbara but at the rate I'm going with the help from folk on here it won't be long ;D
Funny enough Shrub, I'm in lancaster all the time, my daughter lives in a little place called Aughton which is about 20 mins from lancaster. ;D If I was in her garden morning until night I'd still find something to do.
Wee I do already love it but it is hard work ;D