Clay soil has its own unique pros and cons. It’s heavy to cultivate, often ends up waterlogged in the winter, and easily dries out and cracks in the summer. That said, clay soil is also very effective at retaining moisture in the cooler months and is known for being extremely rich in nutrients.
While that may be the case, many trees and plants will struggle in heavy clay soil. Some, such as mango trees, will adapt, but if you want your trees to fully thrive, you’ll need to take steps to improve your clay soil. Here’s how to get started:
Avoid Compacting Your Soil
Clay soil compacts very easily, and this makes it even harder to work with. So, until you’ve managed to improve your soil, you’ll need to avoid compacting it as much as possible.
There are a few ways to do this – start by building some raised beds to give your soil a little break. Planting in large pots for a couple of seasons can help too. Establish some paths around your garden to save you from walking all over your clay soil. Finally, consider taking up “no dig” gardening. Not only does clay soil respond very well to this technique, but it’ll also save you lots of back-breaking work!
Use an Organic Mulch
Mulching can be a game-changer for many, especially when planting garden trees into clay soil. Layering an organic mulch over the top of your clay soil will attract certain microorganisms to your soil. Those microscopic creatures will tunnel down into your clay soil and aerate it, while also adding plenty of organic matter of their own to break down those heavy clay particles.
There are a number of organic materials that you could use for this. Compost is one of the best, but animal manure, leaf mould, and worm castings work very well too.
Plant Cover Crops
Clay soil should never be left bare. Instead, if you have any empty spaces in your garden beds and around your garden trees, plant a cover crop. These are plants that are specifically chosen for how quickly they root, which will help to break your clay soil up.
Cover crops can be planted in spring, summer, and autumn. Those that grow in the warmer months will attract additional pollinators to your garden, while winter cover crops will provide a safe habitat for wildlife to hide out during the cooler months.
Add Garden Lime
If you’re looking for a quicker fix than the methods above, garden lime can help. It works by raising pH, making acidic clay soil more alkaline. As a result, this causes the clay particles to form small clumps, which helps to improve drainage while making the soil more workable.
The best time to apply lime is in the autumn. All you’ll need to do is sprinkle a layer over the surface of your soil and then give it the winter to work its magic.
Summary
Some may find that their plants do absolutely fine in clay soil, while others will struggle to grow anything at all – it all depends on how heavy your clay soil is. Nevertheless, improving your soil is always a good move as it will enable you to add more biodiversity to your garden, and the steps we’ve shared above are the best ways to get started.