In article ,
"Suzanne D." wrote:

"ElleJay" wrote in message
We've had so much rain here. Do I try to keep on digging on wet sticky
clay soil or wait a bit until it gets a bit drier?


Don't dig in wet clay; it will just compact it more. You may want to try
what I do.

I have heavy clay soil, and I don't even bother trying to seed it. I put a
few layers of chopped-up organic stuff like grass and leaves where I want to
make a bed (even an inch will do; you just want to get it up off the clay),
and then sprinkle some bagged dirt or compost over it to plant seeds. The
roots will grow down and break up the clay, the organic stuff will encourage
the earthworms to appear, and the entire lot will break down to nice, mellow
soil in a year.
--S.
ElleJay can save time if she waits until the clay doesn't stck to her
shovel to amend her soil with organic material ( 5 - 10%), including
manure, and sand. Soil composition in the root zone should "eventually"
be 20 - 30% clay, 30 - 50% silt, 30 - 50% sand. Once soil is amended
a garden can be planted, which once established, should be mulched
(alfalfa is ideal). At the end of the season, or now if no crop is
planted, sow area with buckwheat or rye, as they produce incredible
amounts of roots which will aerate the soil and allow for draining.
Nitrogen fixing plants like clover or pulses are also helpful for
fertility of the soil but the buckwheat or rye will lossen the soil
quicker.

Under NO circumstances add CHEMICAL FERTILIZER$, which cause harm to
leaf crops and kill soil microbes that make soil naturally fertile. If
you have any questions about this approach, "google" lasagna gardening
and check you library for "Teaming with Microbes: A Gardener's Guide to
the Soil Food Web"
by Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis
http://www.amazon.com/Teaming-Microb.../dp/0881927775
/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206815176&sr= 1-1

Everything is easy, once you know how.

We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us.* When
we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it
with love and respect.* ~Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac
--

- Billy
"For the first time in the history of the world, every human being
is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the
moment of conception until death." - Rachel Carson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI29wVQN8Go

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1072040.html