Wow !!
Thanks to all who've responded to my newbie questions.
Not only have you solved my pending bonsai issues, you've
helped salvage
my garden!!
Now, does anyone know anything about hot water heaters ???
Just kidding :-)


Yeah. Get a plumber. ;-)

As Bart suggested, it is my intention to rent a rototiller and
"soften"
the beds.
I then intended to remove about 1/3 of the existing soil (clay)
and
replace it with twice as much organics.
That way I should end up with equal parts clay and organics.
The results
(I'm hoping) will be raised beds.

You probably will need to till the mixture 3-4 times to ensure
that it is properly mixed and that the clay is in small enough
particles. Otherwise, clay "clumps" and you will have rock-solid
clods mixed through your beds.

Around the shrubs I intend on digging them up, digging a much
bigger
hole (3 X larger??), and filling the hole with an organic/clay
mixture.

The only problem I foresee is drainage.
However, puddles don't form now, so I imagine it must be
running through
the existing clay substructure.

One solution is to take a post-hole digger and dig vertical holes
2-3 feet deep at several points in the beds (BEFORE you replace
the soil, and fill these holes with coarse sand). Another is as
you and Craig said, make raised beds, and rest the railroad ties
or blocks or whatever you use to hold the bed together on a thick
layer of sand so excess water can drain out under the wall.
This, however, can result in problems later on if there is NO
downward drainage at all in the bed.

snip

Thanks to everyone for your help.
Looks like I've found a new group of friends.

Another new friend you should make is your local Agricultural
Extension Office (check the local government listings in the
phone book (blue section, probably)). Folks there know LOCAL
garden/soil/plant problems and can suggest solutions and sources
much better than we can. For the Pa. (and other state) Extension
check: http://www.reeusda.gov/1700/statepartners/usa.htm

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Our life is
frittered away by detail . . . . Simplify! Simplify. -- Henry
David Thoreau - Walden

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