i suggest powdered dolomite: it's CHEAP and it does WONDERFULLY as an "easy
& fast" amendment for clay soils; and also, in the meantime, get a compost
tumbler or make your own compost heap---coffee grinds, egg shells (make sure
you wash the inside of the shells so there's no albumen or yolk still
within), broccoli ends, zucchini ends (where does this all END?)...etc.
grass clippings, dead leaves (but avoid oak leaves as much as possible---too
much tannic acid to make good compost)....put in HOT, BRIGHT area, toss and
tumble (with pitchfork, or if you like to play in the dirt, your fingers)
;o)
--
With Malus toward none, and Cherry-Trees toward all.


From:
Organization: Sonic.Net
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Date: 12 Mar 2006 05:50:28 GMT
Subject: Clay soil question

I live in a small rental house with a small garden in Sunset zone 22-23. I
hae filled all the beds with flowers. I usually have no problem growing
anything but now am stumped. The ground here is heavy clay. I am on teh side
of a hill so it tends to be wet clay from people higher on the hill
watering. In the raised beds and planters no problem, but I have been trying
for years now to grow a small tree.

For the first tree, I dug a decent hole about 2-3 feet deep and 3 feet wide.
I used compost and mulch and all. It (a Meyer Lemon) drowned. The second
tree I dug the hole deeper and used more compost. It drowned. The 3rd tree -
a Mimosa seems to be officially dead. The hole has standing water. It smells
sour and mildewy. Did I mention this is Los Angeles? The desert? I know
there is no issue of underground wells, broken pipes, etc just there is
an orchard up the hill from me and all the water drains down and puddles in
my back yard. Plus I water a lot as I have roses, jasmine, fucshias,
begonias, impatiens and all kinds of water looving flowers.

So if I dig another hole - like 6 feet deep and fill it with gravel?
compost? planting soil? what? Can I then plant another mimosa and hope it
won't jsut drown as I have improved the drainage?

Any ideas?
Hilda