"joe" wrote in message
...
The Data Rat wrote:
Hi all,

LONG time since I have been here. I decked in most of my back yard after
amending, tilling, replacing and spending a fortune on the lawn. No
matter what I put down or replaced it with, it turns to clay. It is
heavy clay soil that will not support grass. I left about a 10' area for
the doggies and have 5' flower beds around the perimeter of the house and
deck. Not much going on in the flower beds either.

The problem is the smell. We have had these torrential downpours every
afternoon for the past week and the soil smells so bad I go out back just
to pick up after the dogs and that's it. What can I put on it to keep
the smell down? My yard borders a drainage canal and and it has that
stinky swampy smell. I even bought an outdoor fan. I was thinking
baking soda. I don't care if it kills the few weeds that grow. There
is actually a bluish green algae growing on it. Would watering it with
city water (contains chorine) help? I am in Eastern Virginia.

Thanks!

Suzi
put down gypsum to amend clay soil, it works. will eventually turn it
into good dirt.

And, in rec.gardens, someone made another good suggestion: Cover the beds
with leaves in autumn, and secure chicken wire over them for the winter. Did
into the soil in the spring. Repeat next year. Forever, actually.