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aelana
Monroe, WA

June 05, 2007 11:22 AM

Hello! I hope somebody can point me to the right direction. I've taken some sod out and would like to make that area my perrenial garden. What can I do to ammend the soil? I did a soil test and I've got clay :(

Help please? :-)

Aelana

bigcityal
Menasha, WI
(Zone 5a)

June 05, 2007 07:20 PM

There are perennials that like clay don't worry. Otherwise tilling up the clay and adding compost would haep to loosen the soil. Clay has to be tilled when dry though to not worsen the soil structure. Once that's done I give it some time to settle then you can plant away.
What sort of plants are you thinking about?

NatureLover1950
Vicksburg, MS
(Zone 8a)

June 06, 2007 11:13 AM

aelana,
I also have clay, probably about the worst kind you could ask for. Hubby had our ground bulldozed down about 20 feet in order to have a level place to build our house. I'm trying to grow trees, flowers and veggies in what's left for "soil." It's terrible stuff. But I have a list of almost everything I planted that grew and is thriving in this so-called soil here. I will share it with you if you need it. I had quite a lot of failures with plants that supposedly would grow in clay but couldn't manage so maybe I can save you some money and lot's of frustration.

aelana
Monroe, WA

June 06, 2007 12:25 PM

Thanks much bigcityal and NatureLover1950! Since it's a small area, I will go and till it and add some compost. I want to plant peonies in it. Do you think it'll thrive? Or is it better to raise the bed a little bit?

Oh! Hubby argued that we don't have a clay soil so we're testing another area.

Aelana

bigcityal
Menasha, WI
(Zone 5a)

June 06, 2007 06:53 PM

Peonies will do fine in heavier soil. You can argue with your husband - if you take a handful and can ball it up and drop it without it breaking apart then you have clay.

NatureLover1950
Vicksburg, MS
(Zone 8a)

June 07, 2007 03:03 PM

ROFLMBO! I think I could bomb Iraq with mine!
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