"Some One" wrote:

Is there anything I can do to improve the soil and get the grass to
root deeper?

I'm also having a hard time trying to get any kind of tree or bush to
grow without putting in a HUGE hole full of decent soil.

Go to http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search?hl=en

and search rec.gardens for articles with the word "clay" and you will
find a complete thread.

or go to
http://groups.google.com/groups?as_q...O-8859-1&as_ug
roup=rec.gardens&as_drrb=q&as_qdr=y&lr=&num=100&hl =en

There were 787 articles this past year alone.

Oregon State University states:
[ http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/garden/soil/lime.html ]

"Gypsum can modify a clay soil, but only over a long period of time. The
addition of organic matter is the best way to improve heavy clay soils.

Useful organic materials include compost, sawdust, barkdust, leaf mold,
and peat moss. Barnyard manures are good, but must be free of
symphylans, insect pests that are difficult to get rid of once they
become established in garden soil.

Fresh manure is more likely to be free of symphylans than older, rotted
manures, said McNeilan.

Apply organic matter in a layer of two to four inches or deeper. Mix
this layer with the top six inches of soil."

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