Just got some pellets called "Claybreaker".
Does anyone know if it works?
--
Chris

"Chris" wrote
Just got some pellets called "Claybreaker".
Does anyone know if it works?

I think that's just Gypsum, it's a lot cheaper to use that than the named
ready made granules if you can get it. However builders plaster is mainly
gypsum I understand.
Gypsum does break up clay for some years.
--
Regards
Bob Hobden

--
"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...

"Chris" wrote
Just got some pellets called "Claybreaker".
Does anyone know if it works?

I think that's just Gypsum, it's a lot cheaper to use that than the named
ready made granules if you can get it. However builders plaster is mainly
gypsum I understand.
Gypsum .
--
Regards
Bob Hobden


Bob interesting statement there, "does break up clay for some years". I was
under the impression that if you worked clay in the recognised way, grit,
compost, "body" in the form of fibrous 'stuff', it remain workable and NOT
revert back to clay.

Would welcome your comment on this, as would new gardeners trying to get to
grips with clay

Mike

"Chris Hogg" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 18 May 2008 17:53:09 +0100, "'Mike'"
wrote:



--
"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...

"Chris" wrote
Just got some pellets called "Claybreaker".
Does anyone know if it works?

I think that's just Gypsum, it's a lot cheaper to use that than the
named
ready made granules if you can get it. However builders plaster is
mainly
gypsum I understand.
Gypsum .
--
Regards
Bob Hobden


Bob interesting statement there, "does break up clay for some years". I
was
under the impression that if you worked clay in the recognised way, grit,
compost, "body" in the form of fibrous 'stuff', it remain workable and NOT
revert back to clay.

Would welcome your comment on this, as would new gardeners trying to get
to
grips with clay

Mike


With many clay soils the fine platy clay particles pack together very
closely rather like sheets of paper or a pile of slates (but on a
microscopic scale). This dense packing restricts the movement of air
and water (and hence nutrients) through the soil and plants don't
flourish. Adding calcium to the soil in the form of lime or gypsum
causes the clay particles to form much more open structures,
reminiscent of a house of cards. The soil structure generally is
improved and can develop a 'crumb' structure, allowing air and water
to move more freely through the soil.

Both gypsum and lime are slightly soluble and can gradually leach out
of the soil, potentially allowing it to return to it's former densely
packed condition.

Using grit, compost etc. breaks up the clay macroscopically, but
doesn't do much on a microscopic scale. Doing both gives you the best
of both worlds. Of course, if the clay already contains plenty of
calcium, in the form of chalk for example, it's unlikely that adding
lime or gypsum will make any difference, and adding grit and compost
is the best you can do.

Be aware that much gypsum these days is the product of flue-gas
desulphurisation processes in coal-fired power stations, and often
contains residual lime, giving it a high pH. Not a problem in general,
especially if you want to lime your soil, but it could be a problem if
you want to grow acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons, camellias
and some heathers. Mined gypsum is mildly acidic and doesn't have this
problem, but where you get it or how you specify it, I don't know.

--

Chris

Gardening in West Cornwall overlooking the sea.
Mild, but very exposed to salt gales

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net


Thanks Chris. I understand now :-)

Mike

In article , Bob Hobden
writes
"Chris" wrote

Just got some pellets called "Claybreaker".
Does anyone know if it works?

I think that's just Gypsum, it's a lot cheaper to use that than the named
ready made granules if you can get it. However builders plaster is mainly
gypsum I understand.
Gypsum does break up clay for some years.

Where can I get gypsum?
--
Chris

"Chris" ] wrote in message
]...
In article , Bob Hobden
writes
"Chris" wrote

Just got some pellets called "Claybreaker".
Does anyone know if it works?

I think that's just Gypsum, it's a lot cheaper to use that than the named
ready made granules if you can get it. However builders plaster is mainly
gypsum I understand.
Gypsum does break up clay for some years.

Where can I get gypsum?

From the plasterboards to be found in most skips. The rest is just paper and
will decompose.

Steve

On Sun, 18 May 2008 20:04:56 +0100, Chris wrote
(in article ]):

In article , Bob Hobden
writes
"Chris" wrote

Just got some pellets called "Claybreaker".
Does anyone know if it works?

I think that's just Gypsum, it's a lot cheaper to use that than the named
ready made granules if you can get it. However builders plaster is mainly
gypsum I understand.
Gypsum does break up clay for some years.

Where can I get gypsum?


These people sell it: http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/. 12kg for
19.95 GBP, 3kg for 5.55 GBP. Just put "gypsum" in their search box to get to
it.

--
Sally in Shropshire, UK
Posted through the usenet newsgroup uk.rec.gardening

In message et, Sally
Thompson wrote
On Sun, 18 May 2008 20:04:56 +0100, Chris wrote
(in article ]):

In article , Bob Hobden
writes
"Chris" wrote

Just got some pellets called "Claybreaker".
Does anyone know if it works?

I think that's just Gypsum, it's a lot cheaper to use that than the named
ready made granules if you can get it. However builders plaster is mainly
gypsum I understand.
Gypsum does break up clay for some years.

Where can I get gypsum?


These people sell it: http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/. 12kg for
19.95 GBP, 3kg for 5.55 GBP. Just put "gypsum" in their search box to get to
it.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/220058
£4.35 for 25Kg from British Gypsum.

(17p per Kg)
--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com

On Mon, 19 May 2008 00:05:02 +0100, Alan wrote:

These people sell it: http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/. 12kg
for 19.95 GBP, 3kg for 5.55 GBP. Just put "gypsum" in their search box
to get toit.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/220058
£4.35 for 25Kg from British Gypsum.

(17p per Kg)

Beat me to it, I was going say about a fiver for a 25kg bag of plaster.
You may even be able to get it cheaper as it doesn't keep and has fairly
short shelf life when it comes to spreading it on walls. Old plaster sets
too quickly and doesn't have long enough "plastic" stage to allow for
polishing.

Not all building plasters are equal, I suspect a finish plaster rather
than bonding, base, or multi purpose would have a higher gypsum content.

--
Cheers
Dave.