On Wed, 03 Mar 2004 21:11:47 GMT, kevins_news2
wrote:

Last year I started my garden. I removed the sod from two 15'x4'
areas. I dug down about 8" (as far as i could get down with a decent
spade) and tried to loosen up the soil. Its very grey and clayish so
i essentially carved out a spadefull and then chopped at it with the
spade to cut it into smaller chunks. It rained soon after and the
entire thing turned into a very sticky mush.

Clay. Often very nutritious, but lacking organic matter. Compost is
the cure. Just keep digging in compost. And more compost. Timing is
tricky. When the ground's completely dry, it's like cement; when it's
wet, walking on it will further compress the soil (for one entire
season, my clay-based garden plot had a 6" deep footprint at one edge
where I'd stepped when it was mucky). Start your own compost pile
in one corner. Many cities that collect leaves and grass clippings
have finished compost for sale or for free. So-called 'topsoil' is
expensive, particularly in bags, and of variable quality. And you
probably need compost more than dirt. If your soil is alkaline, plain
ol' peat moss will fluff things up and add a little acid.