"Srgnt Billko" wrote:
"Steveo" wrote in message
...
"Srgnt Billko" wrote:
"Steveo" wrote in message
...
"Tom J" wrote:
Stubby wrote:
John H. wrote:
about a year ago I had my back yard cleaned up and sod laid
down. I'm pretty sure I remember the gardener using a tiller
however now I have a section that isnt growing like the rest and
the
soil seem much harder than the rest. What would be the procedure
to soften up this soil? Isnt there something you can throw down
on the soil to make is less hard?
tia
John


Gypsum will break up the clay.

By just putting it on as a top dressing? I don't think so, but am
interesting to know how.

Tom J

Don't waste your money.

I kinda have to agree - even though all the garden books and experts
recommend gypsum. I cleaned out a local garden center at the end of
one season. Took all the gypsum they had left. Still had to build up
with tons of compost. But hey - that was for my garden area. The
grass growws great in the clay I have - can't kill it despite plowing
snow over it, dragging logs across it, etc.

Gypsum applications can reduce effects of compaction only if it was
caused by sodium-saturated exchange complexes in the soil. Gypsum will
not reduce compaction if compaction is caused by other factors. A
specialized soil test performed by a soil lab can reveal if sodium has
saturated the exchange complexes.

So why did you tell the guy it would be a waste of money instead of
telling him to get a soil test ?

Because in permanent crops when you have sodium built up, putting gypsum on
top of the soil is not an efficient way to get sodium reduction, because
there is very little soluble calcium in it. And that's what displaces
sodium.

Hope that helps you Sarge.