How do I enrich clay soil?
Dig up the garden area, before enriching clay soil, during a dry time of year. Dig down 8 to 12 inches deep. Turn the soil and break up any large dirt clods. Clay soil tends to clump together, making it more difficult to dig. Take a sample into your county or state agriculture services for testing. They will tell you exactly what your soil is lacking, such as lime, potassium, phosphorus or nitrogen, and the proper amounts to add.Add organic compost to your soil. Compost will add nutrients to the soil, but the most benefit it will have for clay soil is to intersperse air into it. Plant roots need air. Clay soil’s composition is dense with little air. It can actually suffocate a plant. Compost allows water to drain more freely. Clay soil holds on to water and causes root rot in many types of plants. Layer approximately 2 inches of compost over the top of the worked clay soil. Mix it in thoroughly.Conduct the ball squeeze soil test. Grab a handful of soil after the compost enrichment. Squ
