How to plant in clay, poorly draining, and compact soils. Proper tools, amendments, and techniques.

[@nancywebb6549]

I am 77 and am past digging with a pick axe. I use a tulip auger on my drill. Works great!

[@westhavenor9513]

I use that method too, but also have a 40V cordless posthole digger that I use. Makes perfect little holes for 1 or 2 gallon plantings.

[@rajugoborvas8964]

3 point pick rotate it in the hole use as augur

[@claudb1029]

As always, if you ask 12 gardeners, you will get at least 20 different opinions. RE: tools I generally feel the old traditional tools have passed the test of time HOWEVER, a while ago I purchased a tool called, THE CLAW. It looks like a long handled digging fork with the tines bent into a corkscrew pattern and with a handle placed cross wise at the top. What it does is to stur the soil without your needing to lift it. It works great and is far easier on my aching back. Also- RE: Organic matter I suggest using whatever you can get cheaply. In the past, when I had my boat, I would save the seaweed that everyone else swore at. It was full of micro neutriants, it was free and saltwater weeds will not grow in your garden. Results are amazing. I also use coffee grinds, mixed into the soil-again they are free. Not sure why but they attract earthworms. The worms work your soil-again for free. At 3:00 the worms stop working. They stop for a coffee break. HAD TO SEE IF ANYONE WAS STILL READING MY LONG COMMENT

[@anthonyivanaglugubjr.2645]

Susan Siegel Really 3:00 p.m. or a.m. EarthWorms Stop for Coffee Grinds Break or Something Else like VermiPooping!

[@dreyhawk]

Susan Siegel So.... will the worms work any faster if my grounds are from espresso?

[@IamSquidword]

Susan Siegel lol I read it and I also use coffee grinds in my soil. My banana plants love them!

[@emerald1one1]

ladies and gentlemen the claw is not for CLAY SOIL , this hort guy does have dense compact ground , and I have the densest fine clay that CATS DO NO GO NEAR

[@susieq8008]

Lol...

[@TheGeorgiaMediaGroup]

I miss these old videos. Jim knows his stuff. He was all business back then .

[@kimmyj1512]

I searched 'plant in clay soil' and found this, now I'm hooked on your channel. My broken rake and 3 useless shovels are getting tossed aside as I get me a trenching shovel and fiberglass rake. 😢😁🙏

[@erinm2085]

I am a new home owner and planned out a garden but was totally overwhelmed, as this is my first time gardening and we have heavy clay as well. No other videos were able to tell me *exactly* what I need to do, start to finish. Your simple but detailed instructions have made me feel confident and excited to start! Thank you so much for this video!

[@Gabrielsmessinger]

Erin M Us too with the soil. Raised beds for food, and amending ALOT for in ground 😝

[@serenababy6358]

Same here in Western CO. I needed to do something fast that wouldn't take years of soil amendments and TIME. We decided to start with small flowerbeds around the front of the house and we ended up shoveling a lot of clay soil out (for the trash), then we bought a variety of soil amendments (miracle grow in ground use, compost, mulch, worm castings) and added as we planted. We mostly eyeballed ratio. I'm not saying this is ideal or right way but our flowers are doing well so far.

[@Tina06019]

Thanks to you, I bought a trenching shovel. (Our soil is almost all clay.). My gardening life is much better now.

[@EllaSHeath]

I know this video is 4 years old but this is exactly what I was looking for tonight!! I almost cried today realizing how much clay is in our front porch to be landscaped. Thank you!! May call you for a consultation!

[@dougrowell7817]

Ella, you have my deepest sympathy. We have 100 acres of environmental zoned land in the Hunter Valley in Australia. Highly reactive permean (hence the zoning - the are has permean fossils) clay. I warn our visitors - do not stand or drive on anything brown if it's wet! The block is sploped. The house is a suspended cantilevered concrete floor and the shed 2000sqft and is on fill. The earthworks and shed slab were frightening. I have had my right foot amputated and have had four back ops, so I'll go the tiniest shovel! I'm learning as a newbie how to deal with it from the gardening perspective. Good luck in your endeavours. :)

[@leohurtado5030]

So hard to find such clear and useful information. He's great!

[@missannie8012]

Wow! I just came across this. I live in Central California. So not south at all. But i just bought a 107 year old home. And the soil is very compacted. And sandy too. Its weird. I have been composting so im making some beautiful soil. But the part where he talks about making a "clay pot" really hit me. I did break up soil a bit under my veggie garden. But i cannot even remember the bag of stuff i added??? One bag was mostly woodchips so i put that on top. Now i need to take some notes to really help my plant babies. Thank you all for the help.

[@Moondancer_15]

Meet too!

[@juneterry8487]

He reminded me of how much my late Dad loved his rake. He had it for years and years, and as he said "it's had about four new handles and three new heads but it's the best rake ever" :)

[@live4theleafs11]

Easily the best video for planting shrubs in this soil setting!! I love how humble you are as well. Explaining the different bags of material was extremely beneficial! Thank you sooo much 🙏

[@Killa_KT]

This video saved me from making a few costly mistakes. Thank you!

[@nurturingnature8641]

Obviously, I’m late to the party having only discovered your channel within the past year but have to comment that your instructional style is so thorough and you also share an absolute wealth of information, I feel like I’m attending a Master Class. Bravo, Jim! Thank you so much for all that you do.

[@ashlieflowers]

This is the most comprehensive guide I've ever come across for planting in compacted/clay soils. I love how you talk through all of the options a person may see at a garden center or even be suggested to purchase by an experienced gardener who forgot to ask enough questions about the planting site. I saved this video so I have something to recommend to friends and family new to planting and especially with new construction homes.

[@pennyduncan5980]

❤

[@Armenianshugah]

My husband and I dug a hole for a small tree in our clay soil this weekend ... and we about keeled over! Lol 😂 I purchased many other plants too, but we actually stood there and discussed returning it all back to the store! I kid you not - getting through that wet clay soil (Dallas, TX) made us feel like we were hit by an 18 wheeler! Still working on getting them into the ground bit by bit ... but a pick axe?? GENIUS!!!

[@susan6336]

I’m fighting clay soil in Dallas too. Ugh! Hope y’all powered through yours and got the plants in!

[@rikkir6229]

This is SO helpful. I moved into a new construction home. Pros: no tree roots to deal with. Cons: red construction filler clay for many inches, so many rocks I don't even know what to do with, sod that doesn't want to grow into a massive slate of rock it was laid on top of, etc. No worms!!! Haven't found a single one. It's so heavy packed and dense, I'm not surprised.

[@julietlaney2776]

I just moved to an area with clay soil for the first time and failed miserably at planting my first shrub. Couldn’t even dig the hole and really made me question my self worth 🤣 Thank you for this video, it was exactly what I needed!

[@orangefacedbuddah1776]

your worth it. go for a swim and learn yoga.

[@marilynhumphrey4306]

So glad to find a southern gardener. I'm in North Georgia...at the base of Stone Mountain. Red clay soil with rocks, rocks and more rocks. Your instructions very helpful. Thanks

[@rajugoborvas8964]

Throw water into hole it should disappear if not soi is clay

[@cathybrown7559]

Finally a channel from the south. Most channels that I have found are from the north. Nobody knows clay like a southerner. Great information, I subscribed.

[@JimPutnam]

+Cathy Brown Thanks for watching and subscribing

[@hurstma59]

I live in SW Indiana. Although our soil isn’t the red color like that which is found in some southern states...believe me, it is hard, heavy clay.

[@ThePdxster]

We have horrible clay soil here in western Oregon. Sticky when it's wet, and during the summer shrinks into a rockhard mass that won't let water permeate. Of course weeds have no trouble growing in it.

[@THEREALInfamousP]

Ruth stout method covered with back to eden method and make the land vigorous again. It really is that easy.

[@eggcluck]

@@THEREALInfamousP Unless you are in the a wet and damp area and then you are just creating a slug nursery on that wet clay.

[@jjcameron7977]

From a former Raleigh landscaper....well done Jim! So grateful to see a knowledgeable person presenting these correct steps to plant installation and gardening! Thanks!

[@kellyv7710]

Very helpful! the small details you pointed out are exactly what I needed. Thanks for sticking to pertinent info and not talking about unrelated things like your pets or your vacations like some will do, allowing us all to learn from you quickly and then get out to the garden to do the work we intended. 👍🏼

[@sanmcc55]

SO grateful for our fellow Americans that help us learn the ropes on this kind of stuff....THANK YOU!!

[@pat9604]

Wish I had seen this before I planted my hedge in clay soil! Such good info.

[@tamhicks4583]

I've been using the wrong soil mix to plant in clay all these years! Local Garden centers don't know what to do either! I knew about digging the clay pot. But I've been working too hard! No more! My parents always won Yard of The Month wherever we lived. Charleston or Columbia, SC. Dad knew everything! Miss him so much! Enjoying your videos! Tam from Columbia, SC.

[@vagauthier4025]

You shouldn't have to amend even clay soil. It's the earth. Plants know how to grow in it and clay soil is chock full of nutrients. But you do need to choose the right plants.

[@boots1256]

You Sir, are a master of the clay! I have struggled many years with the southern clay soil. After watching your video, I think that my planting will greatly improve! Thank you!

[@MarinaMcLeod]

This video was super helpful. I bought all the tools and came home and hit my hard flower bed with the pick axe. It worked like a charm. Thanks, Jim!

[@donaldhare1179]

Very nice demonstration of planting in clay soil. This is a very common problem in many areas of the country.

[@nimblewimble]

I have heavy clay soil and come back to this video year after year for a refresher whenever I'm planting new shrubs. Thanks for the info!

[@wolfsangeleyes]

Amazing show and tell. Love the fact that you actually demonstrated everything .

[@heidimanti7319]

I live in San Antonio, Texas the soil is very horrible here. The video was very straight forward easy to follow instructions for planting in clay soil. I liked that he tells you what tools to use and why. I was using a regular shovel to dig my was I struggling. So I came here for information. To the store I go to buy a trench shovel.

[@jaysgardenjournal]

This video has helped me so much! Clay conditioning soil has really made the biggest difference with my gardening.

[@zsaisayus]

Your videos are for dummies and I like that. You make your video so simple anyone can understand. Some speak to us novices like we are Martha Stewarts. LOL. THANKS for making your videos Super Simple.

[@Blargss]

I love the mans passion for his rake.

[@didarden]

Obviously lives his tools☺💚

[@jerry3579]

Thanks so much for uploading this very educational video!! One never stops learning no matter how many years a person has been gardening.

[@kringles65]

Jim,you are so correct on a trenching shovel in clay. It made planting several trees in clay much easier. Thanks for teaching an old man (me)new tricks.

[@christineribone9351]

I thought you were going to cry and hug your tools! ❤

[@triciaratliff3366]

Thank you for sharing this guidance about planting in clay. We're in Northern VA with all clay soil which is a bit of a shock when gardeners first move here (myself included) This is truly helpful so I'll share it with others.

[@dia9491]

May I just say, I love it that you’re a landscaper and still have such an amazing garden. My step dad is a landscaper and he rarely has time to garden. He says he’s lucky if he gets to mow the lawn lol

[@jen0street]

As we embark on landscaping our front yard ourselves, this is truly helpful, and I so appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge with the world! Thank you!

[@esli44]

I am so grateful for this video! Where would my plants be without this?? 😵‍💫 Thank you!!

[@ljones98391]

Just moved here from Oregon and I’m thrilled to have found your channel, Jim. A virtual wealth of great information. After spending my first year thru the seasons I’m ready to make a few changes in the yard and your channel will help me avoid a bunch of uninformed mistakes. Thank you.

[@JimPutnam]

Welcome. Thanks for watching

[@mariannelooney9369]

Oh dear, I've been doing this all wrong. I have been using good soil conditioner that I get at my nursery, but I've been adding cow manure as well and a lot of it with the soil conditioner. I'll mix it really good with the red clay until it looks and feels like cake mix. My new landscape seems to be doing fine, but I want to do it correctly moving forward. So glad I came across this video.

[@silverbackag9790]

I think you’ll be ok; especially if you are doing whole beds. He’s talking about digging holes directly in nearly pure clay which can form a bowl from which water can’t evacuate from.

[@yekimmrt]

I'm excited I found this video and your channel. I'm a new homeowner in the Clayton/Wendell area and your videos are almost tailor-made for every yard project I've been taking on this spring. I wish I'd seen it before I planted all my blueberries and hydrangeas in 50/50 peat moss and mulch!

[@lulubell711]

Clay and rock 😔 they don't call it Rock City here for nothing. I've lived here 30 years and over the years I had my sons dig holes in this "dirt" and they said if they had to plant one more tree they were not going to mow the yard anymore 😁 😉 I've been retired for a year and I'm going to make my ugly old small backyard into a beautiful garden and I've learned a lot from you.. thank you

[@melaniewallace1289]

I have just recently cleared out an 80 square foot flower bed at the front of the house, and have dreaded the task of dealing with that clay soil. Thanks SO MUCH for posting such informative and helpful videoes. I'm learning a lot, trying to get inspired to put a few things in the ground come fall. Thank you!

[@anuraranjithmax2508]

Hi kohomada

[@mamabear9509]

FINALLY AN ANSWER! Zone9b clay soil here in So Cal. Thank you! I have a 20ft H x 80ft W slope that has pre existing fruit and hedge planted up high on the ridge. I have only tackled small shrubs down close to the retaining wall base, so far - for fear of failure. Thank YOU, I have been searching for this SPECIFIC advice!

[@marikalohmus7650]

I am so glad I found your channel - all of these are incredibly helpful. And you helped me realize how many things I’ve already done wrong in my clay soil... thank you!!

[@peggyburress8837]

I love your program. I live in Oklahoma where we have clay soil also. We do not get the abundance of rain you do so the gardening is a bit different even though the zone is the same. Your common sense style of teaching, along with your important details such as proper tools to use, are very helpful. Thank you for your hard work. Peggy B

[@mariahrfordays1988]

A pick ax! Duh! Im so thankful for this. Im turning up way too much compacted clay and rocky earth to amend it for a raised garden bed and between a spade shovel and pitch fork I was going to lose my mind. Back to work tomorrow

[@kellyliuu]

Thank You Thank You Thank You! I bought a very old house with very established plants and weeds that I don't want hanging around. I really don't have the budget for a landscapers and as a city girl I have no idea what I'm doing and have been battling these these for over a year. I've been watching your videos all day and my goodness. Just thank you!

[@hubbiestheman]

Thank you from southeast TN finally someone addressing issues with our soil. Great video keep it up.

[@JimPutnam]

Thank you. Glad to help.

[@vdonahue3899]

I just want to thank you, for everything! I’ve been doing this major project, all by myself, now- I’m doing the fun stuff.. landscaping. Thank you!!

[@neverlostforwords]

Jim (and others reading), you may be interested in what I did today with some of our clay soil in the backyard. I dug a hole to plant an apple tree (it is spring here in Australia) and removed quite a lot of clay and planted the tree into a combination of compost mixed with quality garden soil. The clay was dug out in chunks, each roughly 4 inches in diameter. I've placed them out of the way behind some shrubs for now. I put a few chunks of clay in a bucket and filled the bucket with water, The water went brown immediately and believing clay to be full of good minerals, I tipped the brown water into a watering can and watered the vegetable garden and the newly planted apple tree. Hopefully this will give the vegetables and apple tree a boost. I mulched the apple tree after planting it, with wood chips.

[@heatherwatkins9218]

I've lived at this house for 30 years and just really got in true gardening the last two years with a room addition on the back. I'm so glad I saw this video, I know I've made a mistake on the amendments so I'll address that going forward. Also, everyone laughed at me last year when I was using a pick axe to dig - now I can tell them all - Jim does it! 😁

[@aquaticnstuff7666]

Yeah it feels weird using a pick axe but after you use it you never go back! It's a necessity in hard soil.

[@allysathomas4582]

So happy that I found your videos! Moved to Raleigh little under a year ago and did not realize how much clay based soil is here. Fantastic video and very informative!

[@hotomity]

So happy I found you! I'm in North Carolina and my new home has all hard red clay. I was so excited to plant flowers, shrubs and trees until the first time I tried. I have barely planted anything because it is so difficult. Not enjoyable at all! This is so helpful!

[@vickigower8125]

Thank you for the advice. I'm new to working with rocky clay soil and find that digging a single hole was difficult and time consuming. I believe your tips will help me a lot!

[@umiluv]

Just moved to East TN and so glad I’ve found this channel! So different from what I needed to know in the SW.

[@kog1609]

Thank you so much for this! It is exactly what I needed to do well in my area. I had been making all the mistakes you warned of for two years. So glad my wife found this!

[@JimPutnam]

Awesome. Thanks for watching

[@KaileyB616]

Lol turns out I was also using all of the things he says not to use 😂

[@wenchaoshao184]

Hi Jim, I just want to let you know that your videos have been a great help to me. I came back to this video today and felt like I should write it down here. This video introduced me to the soil conditioner, it's such a wonderful product, and many people just don't know it exists. Ever since this video, I planted quite a few trees successfully and the plants look super happy. And I learned to mix my own soil mix for potting and raised bed by using the soil conditioner as a base. It helped cut down the cost tremendously and allowed me to budget and invest in the awesome plants you introduced in other videos. The first time I watched this video was the start where I was truly able to learn more about landscaping. Thank you so very much for sharing so many great content, knowledge and skills. I'm very grateful.

[@LessTalkMoreDelicious]

What I’ve learned from old-school Japanese gardeners and bonsai nursery owners for planting in clay/compact soil... gypsum powder 😉 Improves drainage and loosens/aerates clay Adds beneficial calcium Flushes out excess sodium buildup

[@ashleygood2541]

Less Talk, More Delicious thx, is it a natural thing?

[@carabuchanan7384]

Can you add Gypsum to an already planted tree?

[@seanaames6855]

It is natural. It's mined from the earth, Ashley Good.

[@agekjrgardpayoutube2593]

Cara Buchanan yes. It’s soluble enough that it’ll wash into the soil next time it rains hard.

[@lizhorton5333]

Great information! Thanks from a clay yard in Michigan 🙂

[@beatrizgambaro3534]

Thank you for explaining how to use the “tools” and your soil mixing technique.

[@derekthelion]

You are a god send. We live in wake county, with clay soil and I felt powerless. You empowered me!

[@diannamangrum68]

Instead of a pic ax which does work, I have found my pitch fork much more productive. Work smarter not harder😅 The pitch fork breaks up a larger area and is about the same size as the shovel. Also if I'm adding soil condioner the pitch fork allows me to easily mix into the clay like a blender. Then I use my shovel to remove the new improved soil, add the shrub, back fill it with the improved soil. Easy peezy😉💕 tfs! Im enjoying your videos!

[@malenavalcarcel]

Thank you!! Very useful. I live in Spain, Mediterranean zone and I just bought a house in the countryside with plenty of space to plant lots of trees and plats. I like very much your videos, you give a very detailed explanation which I will follow :)

[@JimPutnam]

Thanks for watching.

[@crpth1]

Malena valcarcel - Please be aware the moist retention capability of clay. Might be a small advantage in your particular location. Same for the manure/composts you´ll want to use. Check before amending your soil. ;-) Cheers

[@johnbarron2293]

I saw this video a couple of years ago after I had just moved to Alabama. I want to thank you for this advice of using soil conditioner as it has been a game changer for my garden. I feel very confident about the time and money that I spent on several trees, shrubs, conifers etc., because of the good advice that you shared. Thank you again! You are the best in my opinion.

[@SGspecial84]

Peat Moss is an amazing amendment as long as its not just clay you're mixing in with it. Grab that compost (home made or store bought), I use a little sand, peat moss, and pine bark fines mixed together to boost the acidity a bit. The soil always ends up very well draining and holds a lot of moisture.

[@pennyduncan5980]

Revisiting this video three years later bc ice recently moved and the soil is much more clay based. Ughhh. Thankfully your channel is helping me deal with it.

[@sunnygirl87]

Thanks for the soil ammendment recs! At 59, I discovered my cordless recip. saw with old wood pruning blades made chopping through roots much easier. Cut to digging post holes for fencing and yes, I used the recip to loosen soil! Actually, I like it using a post hole digger to dig shrub, tree, plant holes. Yes, I am lazy and my rotator cuff is shot!

[@sionprawn8168]

Thank you for a detailed, no waffling nonsense explanation. I've watched several videos and they just waffle, I watched one with the title of converting clay soil to black and he talked for 15 minutes about various plants and never mentions the word clay once. He just talked about the plants he had, nothing to do with the soil.

[@chadwickBU]

This type of "Pickax" is actually called a "Pulasky" after one of the founders of the US forest service, started under Teddy Roosevelt. The sharp end is the "pickax" and the other wide spade-like end also needs sharpening and is for chopping and pulling roots and trail maintenance, also for quickly digging holes when planting a swath of reseeding seedlings and for digging out buried fires under trees during forest fires. (A forester in the field got to carry one tool - if they were lucky). Forest rangers are really badass. I met some in Big SUR during Sobraines Fire. btw great videos, this and others very well done !! THANKS !!

[@Autism_Forever]

Great advice on the shovels, thanks so much! ♥ For years, I used to dig clay soil with my large 12" shovel, every time getting angry about how "weak" I was :)))) until I finally learned that you are not supposed to do that :) By that time, most of my clay yard was done :))))

[@piercarlotalenti4044]

I live in a section of Hillsborough NC where the soil is not only orange-red clay but also completely compacted, and I therefore avoid buying anything but baby plants so as to avoid having to do the impossible, namely dig a decent-sized hole. Thanks to you, though, I just learned I've been using the wrong end of the pickaxe! But still... digging holes in this area, not for the faint of heart! 😄

[@fundamental1020]

Thank you. Your videos are very helpful as I live in Virginia. I need to say you are always out of breath so I hope your health is okay. We need you man!

[@vgil1278]

Jean Fagan Might be nerves. I get out of breath when I have to speak because I'm terrified!

[@Meraxeshandler]

Im in NC too and just beginning the journey of try to fix the planting areas of the house I've lived in for 20 years. I had no idea how challenging it would be!

[@femineity]

I'm back! This video is such an informative one that I wanted to come back for a refresher view. Videos like this, I like to put in my arsenal of HOW TO videos on how to do things the right way! To bad I can't give it a thumbs up each time I watch it!.👍

[@ban2700651]

Thanks Jim, I learned a lot from your videos. Some of the simplest things I hadn't thought of will make my gardening much easier. I live in Covington, LA where the ground is rock hard and had once been a golf course. Drainage is awful. We had a professional do some French drains and other drains because we made a large garden in the front of the house and on the side by our front side door another which stunk to high heaven when we first moved into our new build home. Initially, I had purchased extra top soil and some garden soil Miracle Grow into the holes where the new gardens were planted only to find that the new gardens were in a large bowl that didn't drain. Wow! We did use a professional landscaper but either they nor I realized these were going to be clay bowls that rotted and stunk. They were able to come back out and put in drains that helped and when we added a side cement sidewalk going around the side/back of house, we used some strips (hwy.) strips that had drain holes, so we have been doing ok. However, I keep adding more soil each year as the top soil/Miracle Grow garden soil drifts down, leaving our gardens lower than sidewalks to drain. Do you have any suggestion about how to keep this soil from sifting down and yes it's packing really hard and needing to be aerated. We are senior citizens and it's getting harder to handle. Any suggestions much appreciated. You are a blessing, thanks Barbara

[@alyssa0411]

I live in SW Washington and have that yellow/orange clay too. We get a lot rain so battling moss on the surface and clay underneath is a little tricky. Thanks for the tips because that clay is only a couple inches below the topsoil and it’s a monster to battle.

[@MoonLightOnWater1]

Same here! I moved here in 2021 and I’ve wasted $$$ planting things like hostas and peonies that just didn’t grow🤷🏽‍♀️

[@jentran2713]

I am so glad I stumbled across this video. I bought a house recently (in Australia) with a layer of rocky soil on top and hard clay beneath that. My back feels like it's about to break and no wonder - I've been doing everything wrong! Thank you for your tips and tricks! I'm a bit more hopeful than I was before watching this video!

[@johnkulcsar5801]

Outstanding instructional video at a basic level that is easily understandable. Your efforts, skills and shared knowledge are sincerely appreciated. THANKS

[@JimPutnam]

+john kulcsar Thank you for watching and commenting

[@terrybrown3719]

Thank you. Very helpful!

[@mark1952able]

agree !

[@llamawizard]

I just bought 7 camellias from Southern Living, the October Magic Dawn variety. I’ll use this video to plant them in my front bed. Tuscaloosa, AL Thanks!

[@josealbertomarichalargonza3743]

Excelente video. Felicidades. Para los amantes de las Camelias. AquÍ en México City es difícil conseguir La Camelia Sasanqua y sus variedades. Pero la zona central de MÉXICO es maravillosa para cultivarlas. Me gusto su video.

[@stephanieray6587]

We also have a lot of clay soil here out West in Silicon Valley, AKA "The Valley of Heart's Delight". Now I understand why my father's post hole digger works so well, as it is even narrower than a trench shovel. So edifying, thank you. Gotta go learn about Azalea now!

[@lindamaxsonsheets8295]

We have moved to the land of clay soil and have a lot to learn. Thanks for all the good information

[@marmaladesunrise]

EXCELLENT illustration for planting.

[@mariannreid3120]

I have always wondered if I was damaging the tree roots when I run into them when planting new shrubs. Also my NC clay is full of rocks in all sizes. I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us.

[@almorris171]

I read an article that discussed cutting roots. The rule of thumb is that a root can be cut if it's about 3x the diameter of its tree away from the base of the tree. If I can cut a small root underground with digging tools, I don't worry about harming its owner. ;)

[@KaileyB616]

I always cut the roots because I have to, there's so damn many of them in my yard

[@stevecristybachman3704]

Praise Jesus we found you! Thank you SO much for all the great instruction and presenting it in a down to earth humble manner. LOVE your videos! Headed for new fiberglass handled tools. I too have been doing it all wrong, and the hard, expensive way. Tytytytyty!

[@Glitterandcoffeexoxo]

Nice to hear someone talk abt the area. I'm in Kdale and digging in this clay is terrible! But I planted those trees! Good vid!

[@conniegarcia8899]

Thanks for all the information you share. My husband and I love to see your videos.

[@myk1200s]

Hi Jim, i think and important point to mention is that when your digging that close to electrical services you should call dig rite first and have them come out and mark the lines so that you don't accidentally slice into a electric line and possibly fry yourself and or get killed.

[@khademulislam510]

Plz tell me the flower name

[@zoeburruss677]

@@khademulislam510 camelia

[@carolgillard2506]

Thank you so much for producing this very informative video. It was EXACTLY what I needed to know to get my plants into the ground where they will actually survive!

[@mleonard3163]

I'd like to add that when you mulch, especially when you've got clay or very hardened soil, ALWAYS make sure that your soil is damp and preferably your mulch as well. The best time to do an initial mulch will be after watering or a rain. If the soil is not dampened prior to mulching, you risk the mulch just creating a layer on top of the soil and water running straight over the ground between the soil and mulch and off to the next area where it's more easily penetrable. The soil being moist will also help to attract more worms. They love (dampened) cardboard/shredded newspaper and coffee grounds so spreading some underneath your mulch layer is good too. For me, I put a several inch thick layer of animal bedding (I've got goat and chicken bedding/manure) and then a few inches of wood chips. This fall I'll be gathering up all the leaves I can and putting them into a separate compost bin for some leaf mould. The areas I've done this with are already looking more workable and brown instead or red clay (as long as the chickens don't go mess up my mulching).

[@anuraranjithmax2508]

Hi

[@TMBgarden]

I got an awesome annuals display this spring to autumn. I have a very hard clay soil in summer, that became hardy like concrete blocks and very sticky and damp in autumn and impossible to walking through in winter. What I did was to prune all the sterile blackberries branches that was in my garden (brambles) for the last 25 years and a make a large pile of those prunes and let them become decomposing it self in the environment. Them when it was dark brown, soft and was unable to sprout again I dig all my clay soil and mix all that 10 cm long brambles compost and dig again due to mix it all very very well. The result was that I direct sowed tagete erecta and tagete patula, cosmos, zinnia, alyssum, callendula, mint, purple basil, bellies perenis, primrose, viola, matricaria chamomile, matthiola, alcea rose, nepeta catarina, nigella damascena, sunflowers, wild linum, lettuce, ornamental grasses, grass, and they all came, out gorgeous. And in another bed I transplant from a pot coreopsis Walker low, verbena bonarensis, lisianthus, gaura lindimery, statice sinuata, antirrhinum, lonicera japonica, piper mint, lemon balm, lemongrass, rudbeckia, echinacea, lavender, and they workout wonderful too. I never had an wordy magazine photo garden before. I got lots of earthworms making humus from thos brambles and my soil retains the watering I give them 2 days per week in summer. (Before those vegetables materials in my soil I had to watering my flowers at morning and evening, because they withered). I save lots and lots liters of water I gain time to actually enjoy may garden, deadheading, etc. By now my garden looks as beautiful like the better spring explosion of flowers and colors. What I also to, take those cat grass pot (rye, wheat, oats) and divide in 6 parts and plan direct on my soil in another bed. Rye helps to protect as a barrier on very windy days and in late summer give me plenty of straw to add carbon to my soil, or mulch. The give lots of seeds, some to birds and some to next sowing. Wheat and oats I use as green compost to add nitrogen and also improve my soil. And that is my experience from one abandoned bush land that no one could walk dur to de stings to and awesome flower garden. Lots of birds singing, bees buzzing, butterflies, mantis, bumblebee, and others insects. I got a new ecosistema with a lot of spices I never saw before. And they "work for me" pollinators and control pest, I have no pests at all. Greetings.

[@Crystl22]

Great! I just moved to NC & after watching this I learned I used all of the wrong amendments & with all the rain we are having things are rotting. I guess I should have watched this before I started. Thx 4 the lesson. Well done.

[@bug8burd]

Was he choking up talking about his rake? My type of outdoorsman!

[@didarden]

I think he was, very sweet. And his pic ax. Awe. Ilove this man

[@jayryan7473]

I was more choked up than him. That's the most beautiful yellow rake handle I've ever seen!

[@cornholius]

lol awesome question/comment.

[@bradtisch7803]

Lol! I noticed that too!

[@annebrookes120]

I think he needs to get his heart checked, he seems out of breath too much.

[@sassysixty3566]

Thank you for this detailed and easy to follow planting guide. I live in nevada and have very hard I assume clay like soil I will definitely be adding soil amendments thanks to you. My nursery will be able to tell me what we need for our soil here in Nevada. Great video 👍🏾 I learned a lot. 😊

[@CindyMay]

I live 30mins from Raleigh and yes we have clay soil here! I was using regular shovel to dig and omg yes it was hard to dig lol I didn’t see or find your video till now 😒 but thank you for sharing I know proper tools to use now

[@valeriehill2641]

Thanks for this! My tree guy just planted a 6 foot Osakazuki Japanese Maple in my clay soil in Northern Virginia and accidentally topped it off with a bag of potting soil instead of mulch. I think I will go out tomorrow and scrape away the potting soil. Darn. Glad I saw this video.

[@ashishdt]

What a great video. So much extremely valuable information in 25 minutes. Thanks!

[@JimPutnam]

+Ashish Borkar Thank you very much.

[@anuraranjithmax2508]

Hi

[@helenperalta3555]

God bless you Jim weathering the chill to demonstrate this. I realize I’m commenting on an older video. But man did I need to view it. We have limestone clay soil here in Deep South zone 8a. Ugh. I keep buying compost and garden soil and worm castings to plant my perennials and flowering plants. And have mounded it all up over the clay soil to avoid working with the clay soil. However I have a huge amount of yard and I know I cannot keep avoiding it. Especially because next year I’ll be wanting to begin planting shrubs and some maple trees (got hooked after your Mr. Maples video tour and now I’ve gotta have more). Anyhoo. Jim this has been so helpful and I will be watching it probably a couple more times as a refresher as the time gets near for my planting projects. Right now I’m focusing on cleaning things up and redesigning the landscape. Thank you always for sharing your knowledge talent and wisdom. I’m learning from you all the time.

[@joyscutflowerfarm3156]

Awesome video - very helpful to me in Southwest GA with the rich red/orange clay soil.

[@libbysevicke-jones3160]

It’s winter here in New Zealand and the clay is very wet. Planting native trees and shrubs so they settle in before the long summer. Our ground is on a slope so l have cut a small trench on the downside of each hole so the water drains away. I’m planting natives that naturally like boggy clay soil down by the creek but I’m still worried they could drown. Thank you for re enforcing the correct method for planting in clay. Nice to know I’m doing it right.