i have that clay soil too train... I have broken so many shovels... sooo im onto raised beds now, as stubborn as i am i have a couple of experiment beds in the ground that i am trying to amend... i've been just dumping kitchen scraps and organic material in it, hole by hole... so maybe by next spring I can use the soil....
Ya
I would be surprised if you had
the same black gumbo clay that
exists here but it you do then all
you can do with that is break it
up small, like normal friable soil
then work at amending that.
I sue a cement mixing tub placed
at a convenient level for working
and mix in that.
What you need more than anything
is organic material and lots of it.
Clean kitchen scraps go to the
compost heap!
Manure, compost and the like go
into you mix along with some organic
amendments such as bone meal blood
meal and others.
You can but hay by the bale, pull it
apart and even chop it up with a
mower if you like then add to the
heap for more bulk and don't forget
to throw some good soil in there too
from time to time.
That heap is a living thing and needs
water, just not too much.
Use a steel trowel for strength to bash
chop and create a decent mix for your
amendments.
By that I mean your manure-compost-
bone meal-blood meal- green sand-
Perllite- and something organic like
long fiber sphagnum moss.
Make sure of your PH after mixing into
your containers or raised beds as
the moss will lower it once watered
a few times.
Build your soil levels high as the level
of organic material will lose body(decompose)
As time passes and that doesn't take too
long.
You will add more mix or compost throughout
the growing season to keep the roots covered
and add nutrients as you go.
A regimen of feeding at regular intervals
is also very helpful as is the need to water
very regularly.
In that I mean if you water every day
water the same time every day not hit and miss.
Not as you feel like it or have time.
If you cannot do that, get a nanny.
NANNY=DRIP SYSTEM on a timer.
Your plants are indeed like children that very
much depend you for everything.
The same as when a child cries and despairs
for want of food or drink so will your
plants.
They too grow accustomed to food or drink
on time.
So find yourself a nice shady spot to set your
work up and enjoy your work.
As a gal you will want to use gloves.
Having to wash as determinedly to free yourself
of soil as often as will be needed wil suffer your
hands so gloves are good.
Raised beds can be easily and cheaply put
together using fencing cedar.
If money is o object and moving heavy 12x12
inch by 6 or more feet doesn't bother you
then go for it.
If nothing is available, just pile up soil and plant
in that raised bed, the way we used to until it
became fashionable to tidy up with a framework.
Train