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swimfeeders
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23-09-2019, 04:44 PM
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Heavy Clay

Hi

I have heavy clay soil, very easily waterlogged.

Have any of you used Agricultural Gypsum to improve the soil?
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Mups
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23-09-2019, 05:45 PM
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Re: Heavy Clay

Originally Posted by swimfeeders ->
Hi

I have heavy clay soil, very easily waterlogged.

Have any of you used Agricultural Gypsum to improve the soil?


No.
Just manure, compost and lots of grit.

Also, look for plants that don't mind clay, like roses and Honeysuckles.

Have a look at the RHS advice about clay, Swim.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=305
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23-09-2019, 05:45 PM
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Re: Heavy Clay

Not used it myself but there's a lot of information online, some of which you may have already seen. Much of that though applies to use in agriculture. One website that did seem more for gardens than agriculture, as in farming, is on the first link below, the second link appears to specifically relate to domestic gardens:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/gar...-in-garden.htm

https://www.allotment-garden.org/com...-in-gardening/

It's heavy clay here so roses do very well, many of my neighbours regularly use manure, compost and something like peat but the 'environmentally friendly' type, can't think of the name right now. Those seem to work alright, they have better soil than in my garden, where nothing at all is used.
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23-09-2019, 06:18 PM
4

Re: Heavy Clay

Originally Posted by Mups ->
No.
Just manure, compost and lots of grit.

Also, look for plants that don't mind clay, like roses and Honeysuckles.

Have a look at the RHS advice about clay, Swim.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=305

Hi

I have put loads of compost on Mups, but I am getting nowhere, over 200 40 litre bags on the borders.


I have aerated the lawn, put sharp sand on and brushed it into the holes and it is still waterlogged for days.

I was hoping someone had experience of the gypsum.
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23-09-2019, 06:23 PM
5

Re: Heavy Clay

Originally Posted by Mups ->
No.
Just manure, compost and lots of grit.

Also, look for plants that don't mind clay, like roses and Honeysuckles.

Have a look at the RHS advice about clay, Swim.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=305
Same as Mups the fine grit is very important it breaks down the clay.
My garden when I moved in here was solid clay, it took a lot of effort to make it workable.
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23-09-2019, 06:51 PM
6

Re: Heavy Clay

Originally Posted by Meg ->
Same as Mups the fine grit is very important it breaks down the clay.
My garden when I moved in here was solid clay, it took a lot of effort to make it workable.
Yes Meg, its a long term thing to cure clay soil, there is no
quick fix!
The quickest way is to move house!

Regards Donkeyman!
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23-09-2019, 08:54 PM
7

Re: Heavy Clay

My heavy clay soil grows the most beautiful prolific roses
Over the years I have added Peat, Well Rotted Manure,Seaweed.
Compost, Grit, Gypsum, Mushroom compost. Ash,and Chicken Manure.
It is still heavy clay and needs a Drill or Samon to dig it.
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24-09-2019, 07:34 PM
8

Re: Heavy Clay

My Grandfather born in 1877 always said that to break down a heavy clay soil was to grow potatoes in it for at least 5 years.
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06-10-2019, 02:39 PM
9

Re: Heavy Clay

Front yard — i replaced it with 2.5 ton of soil for grass, in the rear I’m replacing the clay with soil everywhere I dig for planting new stuff. Generally it’s a hard work as need a lot of bags of soil, worth it though. Only closer to the house I replaced it with gravel so the muddy water wouldn’t be coming up to the house walls.
 

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