"Bengt Boysen" wrote in message
...
If you want to improve drainage to your soil and in long term
the overall structure of your soil, you should add as much coarse organic
material as you can and work it in every year.

I think perhaps you mean you can change the overall "texture" of the soil,
rather than "structure". Soil texture can be changed by adding organic
matter or other soil amendments - soil structure refers to the form of the
particles which comprise the indigenous soil and is virtually impossible to
alter except by compaction or excessive tillage.

It is not necessary to work in organic matter to improve soil texture. The
action of the soil organisms, the decomposition process and even the
miniscule pulling action performed by plant roots will serve to eventually
work any soil additions well down under the soil surface.


You shouldalso add plenty of
lime as this also will add to improve your soil.

Lime does nothing to "improve" soil other than to reduce pH or sweeten
acidic soils and provide slight amounts of calcium and magnesium. This would
not be a typical soil amendment unless soils were excessively acidic (less
than 5.0) or you were attempting to grow specific plants requiring more
neutral or alkaline conditions. Soil tests should be performed before
applying lime in quantity.