Unlocking the Secrets of Amending Clay Soil for a Thriving Garden | My Proven Techniques

Welcome to our garden enthusiasts' channel, where we share expert tips and tricks to create a thriving garden oasis! In this video, we'll delve into the essential process of amending clay soil and unlocking its full potential. If you've been struggling with compacted and poorly draining soil, you've come to the right place!
Key Points:
What is Clay Soil and its Challenges: Clay soil is notorious for its dense, compacted nature, which hinders root growth and drainage, leading to waterlogged conditions and root rot. We'll explore how these challenges impact your plants and how to overcome them effectively.
Benefits of Amending Clay Soil: Amending clay soil can work wonders for your garden. By improving its structure, you'll enhance root penetration, ensure proper nutrient absorption, and create an environment where beneficial soil organisms can thrive.
Step-by-Step Guide: Our comprehensive step-by-step guide will take you through the process of amending clay soil, from assessing your soil type to determining the right amendments and incorporating them into your garden beds.
Recommended Soil Amendments: Discover the ideal soil amendments, such as organic matter (compost, aged chicken manure), leaf mold compost, spent mushroom blocks, earthworm castings, gypsum, and expanded shale. Learn why these elements are crucial for transforming your clay soil into a fertile and well-draining medium.
Long-Term Soil Improvement: Building and maintaining healthy soil is an ongoing process. We'll share essential tips to ensure your soil remains fertile and optimally structured, even as your garden evolves throughout the seasons.
Q&A Session: We'll address common questions from our community, addressing specific concerns related to amending clay soil and gardening in general.
Subscribe now to our channel and ring the notification bell so you won't miss any of our upcoming gardening guides and tips. Remember, a successful garden starts with healthy soil. Join us as we unlock the secrets to amending clay soil and creating a vibrant, flourishing garden paradise! Happy gardening! 🌿🌺🍃

[@pidpit4397]

haha..I live in 8B too here in TX...and yes agree. Get your gardening done early or else you're staying in for the rest of the day. Nice weather we're having today though. Temps are in the 70s. Love it!

[@aok2727]

I am delighted to hear you say that building soil is paramount. Mulching, cover crops, leaving plant roots in place are a terrific start, no matter where you are located or soil type

[@reneeadams9673]

Clay soil - the bane of many Texas gardener's. On the plus side clay is nutrient dense. On the down side, here it bakes like clay and is not unlike cement to deal with lol. I'll have to check to see if I can get the expanded shale locally. Since I raise red worms I'm lucky to have a ready supply of worm castings (easy to do). As always, great info.

[@SeedToPlate]

Bakes like clay, I felt that statement in my bones lol because I know exactly what you mean

[@rnguyen2516]

You can find expanded shale in the form of soil builder at Covington’s, and I bet you can find it at Living Earth if you have a truck. I live in the Dallas area!

[@faithk_integrityandintention]

Good stuff. I amended the very compacted clay soil here with gypsum in the spring, just broadcasting it by hand because I had limited amount and no broadcaster. You can very much tell where areas got more than others. I have some spots in the plot that you could sink into, and others that continually stay cracked and hard. I'm about to plant fall potatoes, and I'm thinking that I'll amend with a little gypsum again before planting to help loosen it all up. Spring potatoes did okay, but they really needed that clay broken up more. I had manually broken up the dirt in a large trench along with the gypsum, added espoma, coffee grounds, and cheap ($2 a bag) topsoil to mix in to just make it loose. It was great in the trench, but it needs more than the trench. (Southern Illinois, 6B)

[@SeedToPlate]

I’ve heard such good things about gypsum, I resells need to try it!

[@growyourownfood7814]

I am one of those do not step in the raised beds fanatics, but you have to when you are amending your soil. And really, if the clay is dry, it is ok to step on it. Compaction occurs when the clay is wet. And expanded clay is really cool, providing aeration and drainage at the same time. I use to use it in my potting mix replacing the perlite. But I can not get it locally anymore. A&M is really high on using it in clay soil, saying you can use up to 50% with clay. You did a really good job on the video. I have extra daikon radish seeds if you want any. It is suppose to be good at breaking up clay soils. Be interesting to see if it really works. Did well on loamy soils when I planted some a couple of years ago.

[@SeedToPlate]

Thank you!!! 🤗

[@carriemartin7727]

Soil building systems in Dallas sells expanded shale

[@just_some_soup]

Or we're here because while we don't have clay soil we just like your content ❤ But it is good information for the future if I move to a place with clay soil!

[@SeedToPlate]

🥰🥹🥰

[@apocalypsegardens]

Awesome video. I love it when you get "no nonsense" like this.

[@lorrainedurgee1761]

Wow - I never heard of just lifting the soil up halfway - good idea -

[@xikano8573]

Hubby knows what's up (cup of joe). That's love right there...

[@liocean9636]

On our farm in Georgia, we use mulch fall leaves, wood ash, and charcoal to amend clay soil. Clay soil needs bio mass to attract worms which truly do the best job. fall leaves does the trick. You also want to attract fungus. break up some wood charcoal and soak it in the water. Afterwards, throw it in your soil. Mix the wood ash in the soil. after you've done everything wait about a month before planting anyting. It should be ready by then. Everything I told can be collected for free. Have animals? It's a big bonus! when you're preparing your grow bed, throw their poop in it! Your plants are going to love in when it ready (1 month).

[@raulramos7561]

Girl stand up, my lower back hurts just looking at you bending down like that 😩

[@JamesWisdom-fc5jy]

But then the cleavage is gone...sex sells

[@rayintoledocebuphilippines5517]

Actually I really like it 😅

[@KR-good]

lit lol

[@BabyT709]

Ahh to be young again...

[@chrissy0072]

Omg thank you for explaining expanded shale! I also live in the central tx area and my research states using “expanded shale” but I haven’t yet tried it bc, well, nobody has harped on it other than a little blip. Will be going to get these “yummy goodness”. Keep on bringing the content! Thank you for sharing!

[@Aroundteresaenjoy]

Great information ℹ️ nice video 👍

[@saras7635]

amazing info - great stuff - thank you for sharing your wisdom! keep it going!

[@SeedToPlate]

🥰🥰

[@B30pt87]

Instant sub. I love your style, and the video is very helpful. I'm looking forward to watching all your videos. Thank you!

[@SeedToPlate]

Wowwww this was so sweet thank you!!

[@taxusbaccata6332]

Great advice, plants including "weeds" naturally spread macro and micro compost material throughout the soil called roots! Clay soil becomes lovely friable material. In Texas I would drying out is a huge challenge so covering threat top soil is essential. I think minimal compression including walking is important to maintain 25% air that idea soil has. Could I suggest you start aeration at the top of the bed and work back so your standing does not compress what you have just loosened?

[@rosalindhb]

I just amend my clay soil as normal. I do break it up and mix in sand so plants can break through. This helps with carrots and such. You can also put in a little in the hole your planting in.

[@SeedToPlate]

So smart thank you for sharing!

[@j.b.4340]

Brooke! Very well made, comprehensive video. I grow in terrible clay/loess soil. I use a garden fork, but mainly just pile up compost that I made with lawn clippings/leaves. (In that state to the east of you)

[@SeedToPlate]

Thank you 🥰🥰

[@subdrvr]

Gypsum is what we use to break up clay. Our clay is all over the place in county here in Alabama.

[@lourachmaninoff3003]

Love your necklace.

[@SeedToPlate]

Thank you! 🥰

[@roishonbowman6174]

You got a good man…him passing you the coffee was epic

[@ericpierce4041]

New sub ,like ,bell, 👍central tx area 🤠

[@SeedToPlate]

Ahhh thank you and welcome 🤗

[@Babs-Veterans-are-Family]

I'm wondering how close spent mushroom blocks are to mushroom compost? I'm in Washington State first year gardening. Everything I've read and heard mushroom compost is very high in salt its good for tomatoes but not good for all plants.

[@carolgreenhill5684]

Tillers do not work on my ground; the tines scrap the absolute top and do not penetrate my ground. I have broken many pitch forks attempting to get into the ground. I have even broken and bent pick axe's trying to get into the ground. So........how can I get any organic matter or anything else to assist the ground, into it???

[@Hapotecario]

till the soil when it's moist.

[@BuzzedGamez]

For new garden beds on clay soil, use gypsum pellets! This stuff is a mega jump start to breaking it down. Trust me my fellow Texans!

[@09echols]

❤❤❤

[@carlagustka325]

Any ideas on very sandy soil?

[@SeedToPlate]

Unfortunately I don’t have much experience with sandy soil! But I’d recommend finding channels that are based out of coastal areas, they would be a wealth of info!

[@carlagustka325]

@@SeedToPlate I'm in bastrop lol

[@williamwoody7607]

Nice work( and you’re pretty cute), but you need a taller camera stand. You don’t want to ruin your posture, it’ll shorten your gardening life span. New subscriber.

[@jackman6256]

Ive got yellowish ky clay yes i live in Kentucky ha hA Ive been working on my garden spot for about 4 yrs my plants would grown very nice then hard pan clay would do its job kill the plant Ive put kitchen waste leaves paper Rotten wood grass clippings I just added chicken manure plus load of saw dust Ground is still hard after doing this I disk my garden very heavy going To add more leaves plus kitchen Waste in ground but my newest trick was to sew in sod buster radishes ive seen them work in other people's garden Buddy told me they grow good in clay soil add everything to ground So iam see what happens this coming spring

[@SeedToPlate]

This is quite the journey, crossing my fingers for you in the spring!!

[@mariocasella8857]

At around, 13:25 you introduce, “ This” . What is “This”?… I tried to freeze the frame 10 times to try to read the name on the bag. I give up.

[@ritawhitney210]

Can you use just use mushrooms

[@chriswillock2177]

Probably bullshit lmao. Love it. That a girl. Be blunt and no sugar coating. Most of us folks outside the cities in Alberta here are blunt and honest that way.

[@SeedToPlate]

This made me smile!! 🙂

[@myurbangarden7695]

Hey TEXAS.....clay soil becomes BRICK this time of year.

[@SeedToPlate]

Deep watering and heavy mulching can help! But yes it is a challenge this time of year with clay soil

[@titoace408]

➿

[@gloryb5513]

If the humming bird has a pretty colored head...it's a male.

[@catherinemiller1323]

You talk of other things too much 🤭

[@chasidydimauro1588]

Bad language earned you a thumbs down - keep in mind if you want to make content - moms with kids are going to want to watch it and we don’t appreciate bad language 🤷‍♀️

[@SeedToPlate]

Keep in mind if you're going to watch content in front of your kids that isn't marked as "made for kids" that it's not a creators responsibility to consider age appropriate language. It's the internet, not PBS.

[@BirdieBlrrrd]

Grow up, bad language is some shit goofy old men taught women and kids. That way men had words only they could use. For real, grow up.

[@williamwoody7607]

Nice work( and you’re pretty cute), but you need a taller camera stand. You don’t want to ruin your posture, it’ll shorten your gardening life span. New subscriber.