How To Soften Clay Soil In Yard
You ll need lots of organic matter at first to really change the structure of the soil.
How to soften clay soil in yard. Till the soil with a rototiller or rake 6 to 8 inches deep working until the soil is a workable consistency. This is a highly effective method particularly in the spring and autumn. The national gardening association recommends amending clay soil with organic matter such as compost to quickly soften lighten and improve drainage of these soils. For a lawn where only the top layer of soil has gotten compacted the simplest option may be to aerate your lawn.
You can have this done by a professional or rent a lawn aerator yourself at a rental shop. Dig up or till the top eight to 10 inches of your soil. X research source not only will compost introduce vital nutrients to the soil to feed your plants the decaying plant matter will also help break up the clay particulate surrounding them. There may be additional steps to take depending on the type of soil you have.
It is done by a machine that punches holes into the ground and then pulls up the dirt. Break apart any clumps in the clay soil. Because clay soil can become compacted easily place about 3 to 4 inches 7 5 10 cm of the chosen soil amendment on the soil and work it gently down into the soil about 4 to 6 inches 10 15 cm. To help soften hard soil in a vegetable garden add a 2 inch layer of compost twice a year and mix it into the top 2 inches of soil.
Aeration loosens up the top level of soil without a lot of invasive digging that will disturb your grass. Amending your soil properly can overcome heavy compacted clay and get it back on track for healthy lawn and garden growth. The best way to soften clay soil in a few hours step 1. After the coring is complete it is a good idea to fertilize your lawn.
Add soil amendments immediately following aeration so that the rain can wash them into the holes and soften the clay. Adding materials such as organic compost pine bark composted leaves and gypsum to heavy clay can improve its structure and help eliminate drainage and compaction problems. Compost comes highly recommended by experienced gardeners for improving clay soil due to its soft texture and abundance of organic nutrients. In the first season or two after adding organic material to the soil you will want to take care when watering.