Where we are, it is much worse. Our clay is as hard as rock and you literally do need a pick ax for it. Watching you dig that hole i realized your clay soil is much softer than ours. You are lucky. You still got it good bud.
@davidbowman2713 жыл бұрын
I build raised beds for my fruit trees so they would sit shallow in the clay soil and most of the root system is located in the raised bed. So far so good!
@SomeGuy-nr9id5 жыл бұрын
I had a friend with a huge area of pure clay soil were nothing would grow he asked how to tackle it. So for fun i helped him out the way i reasoned tackling the problem is that. It needed to be tilled to loosen it and so it could drain, however... Clay re-compacts after rainfall (that's the problem you have to beat). So we gathered a huge amount of leaves and small branches dug long trenches lines in the clay and a couple lines intersecting them as well. We mixed some of the vegitation into the clay too. We also lifted some areas entirely so the water would force its way from the high areas to the lower areas. We rolled the leaves and twigs together put them in the little ditches and recovered that so that there would be areas under the ground for water to drain off and were the roots could penetrate into and dig from there. We also raised some areas and put rocks around them. Thru out the year he dumped coffee grinds as well into the clay and mixed it into parts of the soil That breaks up clay as well. After we did that in the spring we planted 4 o clocks all over as they like clay and the roots dig into it. Ivy by the rocks. Everything grew like mad that very summer by the next year soil had already started to change drastically and he was able to plant flowers and other stuff. Two years later the soil is black gold wouldn't even know he had clay there. Clay soil actually is really good once you get it fluffed up.
@susannas52384 жыл бұрын
What a wonderful suggestion. Thank you. This is very helpful.
@shab904 жыл бұрын
Helped me get an idea on how to start on my back yard. Thanks!
@jwalbrig4 жыл бұрын
Your kidding! That is not clay soil! Our clay is chunks that are thick and refuse to break-up. Every shovel, partly full, needs to be forcefully pried off the blade as it sticks firmly. When dried the shovel full makes a rock hard ball resisting breakage and water.
@walkbyfaithfamily91775 жыл бұрын
This was by far the most helpful video I have seen for planting in clay soil. My trees came today and are bare root. Our clay soil is thick and sticky... if I dig a deep hole it will fill up with water like a bowl of tree soup. I like the drainage trench idea coming out of the hole- I think that will help! Thank you.
@atilamatamoros7499 Жыл бұрын
The comment below, is not clay, probably landfill used-in construction, ours is such. At any rate beyond the gloves, the information is phenomenal and useful. Thanks for solving my frustration!
@bruzote4 жыл бұрын
Half of my challenge is that I really don't have "soil". I seem to have rocks and stones with soil mixed in and lightly covering it for deception.
@geauxcuts44962 жыл бұрын
The only thing better would be too dig deeper initially and then back fill with your mixed soil so that the roots get little better shot penetrating the clay, and the water would sit below the mass of the root ball drawing the roots deeper.
@hacc220able3 жыл бұрын
Your clay appears to have a fair amount of sand - mine is hard packed and requires a pick or sharpened shovel to penetrate. At a few inches down the more moist type of clay appears and is somewhat easier to work. The method you use is right on for clay. Thanks for sharing.
@robertmartin75253 жыл бұрын
Probably the sandiest clay soil I’ve ever seen
@ITS-ME-EVERLY4 жыл бұрын
I blast my root-bound plants with a water hose. It makes them much easier to detangle.
@kcender37714 жыл бұрын
Pretty much covered all of the things I've done wrong. Good stuff and thanks!
@kelleendoyle-scott21645 жыл бұрын
We have clay soil but are in the high desert, so I'll do everything the same as the video but put a bank around the tree to form a basin and put a slow drip emitter on in the summer months. It's hot and dry here! Great video! thanks!
@normandegeorge65265 жыл бұрын
Here in Mississippi where I live ,if you want to dig a hole deeper than 7 inches deep you will need an excavator. This video was very helpful and is what a had to do to plant some shrubs
@ban27006513 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the info. I live in an area that has clay and very hard soil. i just lost a crepe myrtle due to excess water. I ordered a replacement, now I know how to plant properly. Thanks again, Barbara
@timbeachy78725 жыл бұрын
Very helpful for me living in South Texas with heavy clay soil
@ckfields71464 жыл бұрын
This is fine, in Texas you have rocks, rocks and more rocks!
@joemartin48213 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the insight, especially the shallow bowl digging and rebar support!
@iamurage4 жыл бұрын
Good yarn. I had to look up what you meant when you mentioned sod. Need to come over to Australia & I'll show you real hard clay soil.
@jethrohaha4 жыл бұрын
so true, sometimes i mistake clay for stones...it is that bad
@jamess58724 жыл бұрын
That's some really soft clay... Man here in NC, I had to grab a pickaxe to make a hole.
@jorgelozano6204 жыл бұрын
I live in NC too... I did not know it was possible to dig a hole w/out a pickaxe.
@goodwill26074 жыл бұрын
Same. I live in California. The desert soil here is hard clay. It's so difficult to make a hole. I was amazed at how easy he had it.
@TheTandumbs4 жыл бұрын
Same here in VA!
@praisingirl4 жыл бұрын
I live in Clay Co MO & ours is solid clay under 2-4" of sod...golden tan color. Good for pottery too. I usually add sphagnum peat moss & composted manuer & does pretty well. Looking for plant ideas & is gypsum really good to add or not? I've heard both ways..
@clifb.35214 жыл бұрын
Remember. Shallow and wide. Like a politician
@vickigower81254 жыл бұрын
So your tips about more shallow holes and loosening those roots makes so much sense to me. haha wonder why I didn't think of it on my own :P Thanks for the help!
@allglad4 жыл бұрын
a couple ideas Id do to these steps is dunk the tree in water &/or wash off the soil with a hose. I'd prefer bamboo to steel usually. The slamming an anchor among roots and soil are things I like to avoid..as well as tug'n on roots..so the water would help avoid much root trauma.
@allglad4 жыл бұрын
You got some nice plants.
@lovelybytabitha46412 жыл бұрын
Finally a good video for clay soil
@gemini08084 жыл бұрын
Nice roses!! Hopefully mine look like yours this year! I planted them last year in clay soil!! I don't know much about gardening but this video helped. Now I'm gonna dig them back up and do it the right way. Thanks!
@chickenfarm095 жыл бұрын
Georgia clay is a lot looser than up north. Ours comes out in chunks and stays that way. You can't crumble it.
@vgil12784 жыл бұрын
chickenfarm09-and his is nice and dry. Michigan clay always seems wet and slick and you are right-it stays in a clump and it's so heavy to lift.
@flashy51503 жыл бұрын
I’ve seen a lot of people soak the roots in water and get rid of all or most of the soils trapped within the roots of the new plant and then putting fresh soil in the hole under the plant and finishing by adding the rest of the soil around the plant. I mix a little vermiculite in with the soil for Hostas and that keeps a little moisture storage for the plant and helps with oxygen and drainage also. I don’t necessarily have “clay” but it’s very tough soils with a lot of roots .
@9realitycheck95 жыл бұрын
AGREE... I LEARNED THE HARD WAY ABOUT PLANTING TOO DEEP... I ALWAYS PLANT "CROWN HIGH" ..2-3" ABOVE THEN BACKFILL WITH MULCH...
@AMIR-nm7fo3 жыл бұрын
NICE VIDEO. I LEARNED A LOT, BUT THE STARS OF THE VIDEO ARE YOUR DOGS......NICE DOGS
@mrsbrown817 Жыл бұрын
Damn those roses look good
@zachlloyd93924 жыл бұрын
Dang, your clay is nicer than mine, has some loam or sand in it at least. Mine is 98% red clay here in Oklahoma. It doesn't break apart at all. I have done the jar tests and always have a big lump or red clay in the middle of the jar no matter how much I shake it, and once anything settles, it's straight up clay the whole way through. 😧
@xgv1979x4 жыл бұрын
Lol. Yeap.
@queuemaster5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the timely advice, I just finish digging my tree hole too deep lol. Oh well I'll just change the location.
@alyssa04112 жыл бұрын
Ornamental pear trees like the Cleveland Select and the Bradford are considered an invasive species. I would have gone with something else.
@billessmaker5 жыл бұрын
Got 3 trees on order to plant this spring. I'm getting excited to plant them:) Thanks for the insight!
@juliej7861 Жыл бұрын
I just bought a couple mulberry trees, and will be trying this method. Thanks!
@NickBair3163 жыл бұрын
I know I'm late to the party, but how and when do you remove that rebar? Or do you just leave it there forever?
@Nittanykzm4 жыл бұрын
Before planting my lupine seedlings, I incorporated a bag of chicken grit and compost into the clay soil.
@praisingirl4 жыл бұрын
I have just been playing with chicken grit too. Not sure what it adds to the soil though
@Lucyabdul3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for all the info . Had same problem here in Memphis and now I know what to do with the next plants 🪴
@MrNiceCobra3 жыл бұрын
Professional tree orchards makes 2ft tall x 6ft diameter mounts for the tree if they have bad drain soil.
@ernaverheijdt29254 жыл бұрын
I learned a lot today because I'm planning to buy a a land and I found out its clay. Thank you so much.
@koof17763 жыл бұрын
Excellent presentation, 10!
@susanclark3391 Жыл бұрын
Good information but I wouldn’t call that clay soil… I’d be thrilled if that was all I had to deal with. My place would be described as a “brick pit” by comparison. A pick axe is absolutely an essential tool for gardening here. Success has been mixed. I also mound (raise plants) and create wide, low mounds encompassing many plants including trees. I still dig down 30 to 40 cm then build up the same above, mixing good quality soil with the excavated clay soil, both above and below ground. And loads of “clay breaker” and organic matter is essential too.
@rosalihumphrey46444 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for this video it was very informative and Im ready to tackle my back yard.
@jackconnolly26653 жыл бұрын
Well, crap. I just planted ten 24" box trees two months ago. I have machinery so I dug huge 4x4x4 holes and amended my clay soil with a pick up bed full of compost/fertilizer. I didn't know the roots would continue to grow in a circular fashion. Well, I aint gonna dig them up :) My clay in AZ isn't as bad as Georgia clay. It's biggest problem is the lack of organic matter. Also, I dont like berms around wells so I plant everything low and the wells are as wide as the tree canopy will be in a few years.
@lindalogan15502 жыл бұрын
Really learned a lot about planting in clay soil. TY
@dfmackenzie3 жыл бұрын
Some say to always keep the roots wet when planting.
@lightwayvez24 жыл бұрын
They 45 angle the stablizer post where I live for wind issues now. Straight up and down in the wind will break the tree.
@Funknwanker3 жыл бұрын
Dig a hole twice the width of the rootball and one inch less the depth. Slice the roots vertically if it a container plant if balled a burlaped then just leave as it. Gte a couple bags of humus and mix with the native soil and then backfill and pack the soil nicely.
@chrisjohnson76154 жыл бұрын
We have some Skip Laurels we just planted. We have 2 that are not going to make it. Afraid they didn't drain with this technique work for those as well. We are in Middle Tennessee
@tofuroshi3 жыл бұрын
Breaking up the roots is probably a good idea, but you can't let them sit there and dry out in the sun. The fine root hairs will die back within minutes in that situation. At lease wet them down as you go or cover them up temporarily as you work.
@azraikezoe3882 жыл бұрын
!yes! Same in kane county illinois, had moved out of Chicago, with nice dirt, to a reshaped subsoil housing development which I found to be a "hardpan" yard. Slope away from house and towards water retention drainage hole. That tree is way too close to fence. I planted my trees ten feet away from fence and trunks are one foot diameter. Just saying. You do have great info for folks.
@Snakeplisskin4403 жыл бұрын
This makes a lot of sense. Where I live we have good loamy soil but once you're about a foot deep its very dense clay. I live right near Lake Erie. Some long time ago, this actually used to be river bed. I actually started to do that planting technique out of some common sense that the clay wasn't good to plant in so I would just pile the dirt up sort of in a mound. I didn't realize about the wound roots though. I'll keep this in mind. I'm planting some trees here soon in the yard and want to make sure they survive. They're not exactly a cheap investment. Thanks for the informative video! I subscribed.
@rickershomesteadahobbyfarm32913 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this information! It is very helpful!
@dirtysouth41135 жыл бұрын
Hey doc, I’m new here; just seen your video. First thing I noticed was you have a very different idea of clay, I know the definition but my yard is too tuff for a 45 horse Kubota with a 6’ tractor tiller!! Any help would be greatly appreciated
@WHSCardinal225 жыл бұрын
Awesome detail and explanation. Glad I your videos...
@yathatisgood4 жыл бұрын
I wonder if you still plant this way 2 years after?
@hazelbotedapgonzalez61722 жыл бұрын
I just found your Channel after killing about 10 trees and shrubs in my yard. I live in El Paso Tx. Heavy clay. Very heavy and super sandy on top. The only things that have thrived are Oleanders, which I love but they are highly poisonous and toxic and kind of annoying. I want things like Texas mountain laurel and rose bushes to thrive. I’ve also tried about 5 honeysuckles and they all died. It’s heartbreaking as they have grown fine at another property. Any advice and directon is so appreciated
@cmerks53 жыл бұрын
Wish my soil was that easy to dig in. We have a lot of compacted silt and lime. With lots of rocks. That hole would have easily taken more than an hour in most spots.
@senselessmonkee3 жыл бұрын
Thanks that really helps here in Charlotte where the soil is hard and does just like you say. I should dig up some these shrubs that are struggling with root rot and replant but that may cause terminal stress doing that IDK.
@mygalmo5 жыл бұрын
Best video ever! We just moved into our new home and I just discovered (after uprooting 100+ perennials from our old house) that we have clay soil! I already dug 2 holes that took all eternity lol but have 9 more to go and I will definitely be following your advice. Did you plant your perennials and rose bushes using the same method of shallow wide holes? Again, great video and information!
@philipzhou82784 жыл бұрын
That's pretty loose soil, not nearly as bad as the clay soil in California, which is more like hard gum in consistency.
@pa.fishpreacher61664 жыл бұрын
Good info, Just got some fruit trees so very helpful Thank you
@ruthlapwood24862 жыл бұрын
Thanks. Encouraging vid
@alan301893 жыл бұрын
Good tips. It’s still too close to the fence, though, IMHO.
@stephencarey95366 жыл бұрын
Hello Doc, have you done a drainage test in your yard, to see how long it takes for your soil to drain water? I'm sure you know the test, you dig a whole about 12" deep and 12" Wide and long, and fill the whole with water and time how long it takes the water to drain. I live in southern California and I have clay soil. When I did the test it took about an hour for the water to drain. That length of time isn't too bad. Now we don't get nearly the rainfall you do in Ga, but I would be curious to know the outcome of a drainage test from you.
@joncrosby89885 жыл бұрын
Im in MS and in most areas of my yard, a drain test holewill not drain for a couple of days, if at all
@NataGeo834 жыл бұрын
Wonder if I can apply that in here west of Canada , Alberta , our soil is wet dark clay , 95% what we planted over the last 4 years doesn’t do well, absolutely at the end of my wits here
@lronbutters56883 жыл бұрын
Thank you again for video super helpful And my soil also has to pass the sniff tests from my furry yard companions
@gous56492 жыл бұрын
Learned a lot. Thx 👍
@porkchop07113 жыл бұрын
We are going to move to Jackson /Madison area and I wanted to learn about how to plant in the clay soil 😊Do you need to have automatic sprinklers there, or does it rain so much you don't need to? Thanks
@LWChauling4 жыл бұрын
Great Information, Thanks!
@mr.lourod61753 жыл бұрын
Thank You about to plant me some fruit trees.
@ShankarShashi3 жыл бұрын
Good work!!
@FloresG9984 жыл бұрын
Will the tree still grow to it’s full potential, and will the roots still find their way down as it grows?
@HowTowithDoc4 жыл бұрын
Two years later and all 3 are doing great.
@seanmcguire79743 жыл бұрын
We have the same reddish orange clay soil in Philly suburbs
@thetwistedsisterme3 жыл бұрын
Your soil looks awesome compared to my clay. I can't even call mine soil as it's brick hard and I can't even dig a hole without some major tool. So, this won't even work for me.
@marydiscuillo1424 жыл бұрын
I watched you loosed round roots. You dont seem gentle. Do you ever have to worry about being too rough or overdoing it? I have always loosened a bit but never to the degree you showed. Luckily most of the time all goes well. Just curious. Or when hitting the metal pole through root ball this is safe for plant? I do occ have a leaning tree guess this is a cure. Just checking on any potential downside. Thx. Apprec your suggestions.
@lorenzojoe69042 жыл бұрын
Are you related to Vin Diesel?
@duramax785 жыл бұрын
I’m in chestermere you cannot dig my clay like that it’s way too hard.
@matthewstover67893 жыл бұрын
When would you remove the rebar?
@javiercorral78204 жыл бұрын
Those birds are hilarious ! lol
@Shipleyt195 жыл бұрын
How do you keep grass out of the flower beds. My Bermuda takes over everything
@tonycollazo14904 жыл бұрын
Is there an update on these trees? If so can you send me the link! Please
@HowTowithDoc4 жыл бұрын
You can see them in the recent videos... all doing great.
@richardyin77876 жыл бұрын
would it work to use a water hose to remove the dirt from the tree root ball?? then spread it out as you plant?
@stephencarey95366 жыл бұрын
Hello Richard, yes you can use a hose to clear the soil from the roots with less damage.
@agaan18974 жыл бұрын
I like it!
@emailkenny3 жыл бұрын
Doc “planted” that joint on top of the ground 👁👄👁
@gigtimes4 жыл бұрын
thanks man - great advice
@QBRX3 жыл бұрын
Your red clay soil looks great compared to Iowa gray clay soil.
@khanghuynh1443 жыл бұрын
Thanks for directing I grow my fruit tree very deep not develop good , my backyard have lot big tree when I dig hole grow jujube tree like you teach but underground have lot big weed if I grow my fruit tree it turn out any good ? I use to grow my vegetable in raise bed weed go in turn out not good ,I take out raise bed grow my fruit tree that why have lot big weed please let me know can I still grow tree or go in container thank you very much
@techassyst6 жыл бұрын
Great video, good tips for clay soil, your clay soil looks like sandy soil compared with my London heavy clay !!!
@larcher12214 жыл бұрын
If we are encouraging the roots to grow more outward, how much extra distance would you add when planting near pavement? I don’t want the roots to grow underneath our patio area and crack it...
@sacdigitaldesignweb4 жыл бұрын
I planted one of this 15 years ago and it died in two years. Sad. Mine is very clay soil too. I can throw a pot with the soil.
@philzail25323 жыл бұрын
A popular KZbin guy in Raleigh says to not amend with top soil or manure. But mulch only.
@Bluecorner8412224 жыл бұрын
Great vid thank you 😊
@shanehester5317 Жыл бұрын
i plant crepe myrtles .the first 2 weeks or so i just concave digg and plant.the a few weeks later i digg out like he is doing.
@balloney21754 жыл бұрын
Can't do that in hurricane friendly Florida.
@goerizal14 жыл бұрын
i live in burr ridge illinois famous for its clay native soil. yours do not appear to have much clay at all. do you add sand to really clayish soil sometimes(among other amendments)?
@FishyHandle5 жыл бұрын
When do you take the rod out? And how?
@danimotherofchickens4793 жыл бұрын
How would this be different for succulents, they need potting mix in the hole right ?
@njones9303 жыл бұрын
I know that this video is two years old but I would love to know the stain color that was used on that fence.