compost trench

[Ladygardener]

Has anyone ever heard of digging out some of the clay from a ditch/bed, filling it with half decomoposed matter from the compost bin and covering it with soil again. I think I've heard that this is another way to compost and improve the soil. I just wondered if it would work and help condition my heavy clay veg bed I made this year.

What do folks on here think?

[Tig]

I don't have clay soil lng - but it sounds logical to me I'll have a look in a couple of my books tomorrow, I'm sure I have read some info on soil improvement methods - or someone else may have some experience and can answer your question

[Chuckles]

A compost trench is something that can be done in preperation for planting Runner Beans LNG. I've also read it can be done in areas of a garden where the clay soil restricts you from planting certain plants, so , go for it. I guess things to remember are, think about what you are planting as in how deep will the roots want to go, no use doing a 1ft trench if you have roots that will grow more, IYSWIM. Also if stuff is semi composted there will be some sinkage so you'll need to top up. When I did my raised beds I used semi composted material to help fill them.

[Ladygardener]

Thanks very much for your replies Tig and Chuckles, it's good to know others have done it too. I'd not thought about sinkage at all Chuckles, thanks. I think when the weather dries up a bit it's something I'll do. Nice little project for me to do in the autumn.

[Barbara]

i have clay soil, it was unworkable when we moved here, i still have sore wrists from trying to dig, i used to use a hammer in summer, that should tell you how bad it was,
but every autumn i dug the top off put compost in put the top back and put compost on top.
in spring i used some stuff called clay breaker, at bit expensive, on 1 bed and manure on another they are both nice and workable so if you can get manure for free its well worth the effort, and in autumn it doesnt need to be well rotted the stinkier the better. ;D
hope this is some help to you. B

[Ladygardener]

Barbara thanks that's a great help too. I started the bed this spring and planted my courgette and shallots there, they're harvested now and I'll work the little area when it dries up. I must see about manure of some sort. I'd thought I'll add chicken pellets as well.
Chuckles I'm not yet sure what I'll be growing in it but it will be veg of some sort.

[Jasmine]

Our soil is clay and when I re-built the terraced flower bed I dug down as far as I could, took out a layer of clay and filled the hole with home made compost and put the top soil back on top. Plants seem to grow better there now - I expect some of them hated sitting in water logged clay all winter.
I am trying this in a new bed about 1m x 1m between 2 of my veggie beds, it is solid clay here and doesn't look as though anything has ever been added to it. I don't have a system I just dig out clumps of clay, add compost and fork the new soil together. I added fertiliser pellets as I went along when I did the terraced flower bed so I will do that again too. Might try some of the chicken pellets you mentioned! Hope this helps a bit but as I said it is just an experiment really - luck not judgement! ;D

[Ladygardener]

A lot of gardening is down to luck I think Jasmine, no matter how you plan Mother Nature will have her way. Good luck with your new bed too.