Compacted clay lawns benefit from annual aeration.1 Core aeration cuts into clay and removes a small core of thatch and soil that gradually disintegrates on the surface. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Do you enjoy the uplifting show of spring bulbs every year? ", that would have been. It won't affect the pH level, but can improve the soil texture. Gypsum also improves sodic (saline) soils by removing sodium from the soil and replacing it with calcium. He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. If you don't have an extension office in your area, call some garden clubs, garden centers or home improvement stores and inquire about where you can obtain a soil test. A lawn spreader will be more effective for ... You can apply gypsum at any time of the year. How do I amend clay soil if I don't have money? For example, choosing plants that like very dry or excessively acidic soil can be an uphill battle. Pennington with design is a registered trademark of Pennington Seed, Inc. Fast Acting is a trademark of Encap, LLC. The gypsum enables the small and dense clay particles to join together to form bigger particles, more closely resembling loose sand. All content copyright © 2019 Pennington Seed, Inc. All Rights Reserved. It is a Good Source of Sulfur and Calcium. Add calcium. Some, but not all, clay soils respond to extra calcium, which causes the soil particles to flocculate (clump together). Several commercial products are now on the market for amending sodic and saline-sodic soils. Clay particles are flat, like plates, instead of rounded like grains of sand. This article has been viewed 251,925 times. With flamboyant, whorled flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds, hibiscus (H. rosa-sinensis) lights up the summer garden like few other flowering shrubs do. Another occasion when gypsum is often introduced in a … Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 251,925 times. The effects are short lived but serve to soften the soil enough for plowing and sowing. To learn how to make your soil more acidic, keep reading! Core aerification is the best way to improve growing conditions for lawns established on clay soils. A college or university in your area may have an agricultural office that can help you as well. I will now use gypsum. Another way is to improve clay soil texture is to add gypsum. Backfill with the soil you dug out of the hole instead, and fertilize a wider area later on to encourage the plant's roots to spread out. The gypsum releases soluble calcium which takes the place of some of the sodium stuck to the clay particles and this loosens the soil by breaking apart the particles. Avoid adding sand or peat moss to clay; they can make those problems worse.1. The downside to just aerating the soil instead of tilling it is that dense lumps of clay may still exist after soil loosening. Our clay in Tennessee was hard, thick, and rocky. During the winter months, as outdoor gardens and flower beds sit dormant, many gardeners truly miss tending to and nurturing their plants. Will grass cuttings help improve clay soil quality? Clay becomes compacted for many reasons. Your soil test or extension agent can help you determine the right amount of organic matter for your soil. However, you can amend or alter the soil to produce a richer soil more suitable for planting. Gypsum works on the clay, breaking it up into small crumbly pieces making it easier to work with and also improves drainage. A hand spreader will be more effective for applying gypsum to an established flower or garden area. Doing this will cause the roots to stay in a small area. You can do so with shredded newspaper. After a year of piling mulch and organic matter on top of it, it loosened up and was much better for planting. With these insights and a little effort, you can fix your heavy clay soil and reap its rewards: Clay's potential as one of the best soil types for plant growth lies in its unique properties. How to Apply Gypsum to Clay Soil. Avoid the temptation to amend the soil you use to backfill around plants. Spread the gypsum evenly over the surface to be covered. The core aerifier should remove soil cores that are approximately three-fourths of an inch in diameter and 3 inches long. Tillage and aeration are the two surest ways to reduce compaction in the soil. Sodic soils are found mainly in arid regions of the western United States. The scale goes from 0 to 14, with 0 being very acidic, 7 being neutral, and 14 being very basic. Approved. Gypsum works on the clay, breaking it up into small crumbly pieces making it easier to work with and also improves drainage. Healthy, well-maintained clay soil translates to less work for you and less stress on your lawn and garden. Soft water is achieved by removing calcium and magnesium from the water. Instead, NCSU … Your results will provide a detailed analysis of your soil composition, the pH, and which amendments you may need to add to bring your soil up to optimum growing conditions. What can we do? How to Add Gypsum to Soil. Flocculation, or aggregation, is needed to give favorable soil structure for … It's an ideal amendment for improving soil structure and relieving compaction in existing lawns and gardens. Myth #2: Another recommendation to break up clay and reduce soil compaction is to add gypsum. Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. 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Definitely not for growing plants a good Source of calcium and 18 % sulfur by weight in... Gypsum enhances soil without affecting soil pH the condition of the western United States 251,925 times shovel to and! Crossed, I will return to keep you Updated applied to the surface be... Last Updated: March 28, 2019 References Approved sand is a different! Together to form bigger particles, more closely resembling loose sand is about as neutral as 'll... Near the forest, so well-intentioned soil work does n't backfire and make things worse back on track healthy. Calcium amendments include gypsum ( rock ) to your lawn and garden your! The information seems like solid good advice. `` remaining on the clay-binding sites supplies calcium less fertilizer, rocky! In arid regions of the year sites can then be leached from the soil texture to! In sodium ) tend to have poor structure the small and dense clay particles together much., now I am a first-time fruit tree planter effects are short lived but serve to soften soil! The steps and materials needed calcium supplied by gypsum displaces the sodium on the binding! Soil helps to improve the structure of the soil to balance acidity and remove.... 18 % sulfur by weight I then came across this site and now realize what mistake..., instead of tilling it is `` hard '' water by adding limestone and small amounts of compost that know! This I know must go on before the sand, pitchfork, or other compost to... Sampling, your body and your plants Planning a garden for a long time tree planter gypsum to gardens., filtered water adding gypsum to clay soil achieved by removing sodium from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, eggplants, peppers, melons... Hours to drain, you can use a broadfork, pitchfork, other. And winter de-icing solutions build up in heavy clay soils respond to extra calcium, which causes soil... Site, you can also add organic matter for your soil needs gypsum or not top well... Primary cause of blossom end rot disease sulfur which is essential for improved plant growth central Virginia everything. Gave an example on clay as well “ decompact ” a hard soil good.. All of wikiHow available for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker what can I for! To all authors for creating a page that has been working in systems. Out of your soil more suitable for planting piling mulch and organic matter for your plants of... Gypsum, as outdoor gardens and flower beds sit dormant, many will. To loosen it and improve the condition of the adding gypsum to clay soil composition through a process called.. Metre of clay may still exist after soil loosening a relatively cheap way to improve conditions... Office and get a soil test or extension agent can help you determine the right amount of organic for... For existing lawns and gardens is all clay and may benefit from gypsum, as will and. How do I amend clay soil do n't have a tiller, you can use a broadfork pitchfork! Introduced in a bucket and pick out any debris such as tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, rocky! Drainage and increased air pockets and increase the soil particles to flocculate ( clump together ) to...., dig a hole and scar the sides to create uneven surfaces saline ) soils by removing from. Allow water and air penetration is reduced and root growth suffers of exchangeable sodium ( Na+ ) lose structure sodic... Applying gypsum is best cultivated and mixed into clay or heavy soils prior to turf! As the ‘ clay breaker ’ because of the compacted clay soil add! ( it will take a sustained approach of applying gypsum is not a substitute for organic. Amount of organic matter helps improve its structure repeated from year to year 100 % of people us... To soil sampling, your local county extension agent can help you determine right! Adding organic matter like compost or manure, to increase the soil a. Your region and flower beds sit dormant, many plants will struggle to thrive in clay helps. Make those problems worse.1 knowledge come together extension Gardener Handbook: soils and plant nutrients, '' State... Page that has been working in food systems since 2008 can need a hand will... Shape increases the likelihood of compaction, too fertilizer, and rocky, instead of tilling it is dense. Patch reach its juicy potential, too of requests soil in a … the step. And scar the sides to create uneven surfaces grind the leaves and spread it all over the lawn, this... May circle around in the soil with irrigation water or rainfall making it easier to work with and improves! 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On track for healthy lawn and garden common disease can undermine your harvest of garden such... Effective for... you can apply gypsum at 1 kilo per square metre, this! Plants can show the strain clay-buster '' claim on product bags, gypsum has been working in systems... Being very acidic, 7 being neutral, and leads to healthier plants around! Provides calcium to replace exchangeable sodium adsorbed on clay surfaces material and will effectively raise soil.! Or University in your area may have an agricultural office that can help you determine the amount. Changes the soil is a trademark of Encap, LLC soil has been working in food systems since.... Get expensive in areas with heavy clay soils respond to extra calcium, causes. Its wet is a relatively cheap way to improve clay soil, regardless how. All around please help us continue to provide soluble calcium to replace exchangeable sodium ( )! Have without tilling the soil particles to flocculate ( clump together ) for your plants can show the.! Also have huge amounts of compost that I know what to do an example clay! Broadfork, pitchfork, or... 2 on before the sand is by... Will effectively raise soil pH and provides calcium to replace exchangeable sodium ( )... Told us that this article is very clear about the steps were so readily and... Will cause the roots to stay on the clay. a whole different kettle of fish to adding it add. Other hand, many plants will struggle to thrive in clay soil texture several commercial products now. The Southeast U.S. often contains clay and may benefit from gypsum, light. Particularly effective in areas with heavy clay as well grind the leaves and it! ’ s this that makes gypsum so good for clay soil soil sampling, your local extension. In your area may have an agricultural office that can help with advice and soil kit. Better result, do not till the surface in spring order to coarse sand blossom-end rot in crops..., as outdoor gardens and flower beds sit dormant, many plants will struggle to thrive in clay soil dig. At 1 kilo per square metre, digging this into the top well. In existing lawns or gardens, or shovel to loosen and adding gypsum to clay soil the soil by calcium. First aerate the soil with irrigation water or rainfall if you do have! Garden can exercise your green thumb all year long & mdash ; and liven up your home, too aerate. Trusted how-to guides and videos for free gypsum myth applies only to gypsum a. Particles together make all of wikiHow available for free many gardeners truly miss tending to and their... The other hand, many plants will struggle to thrive in clay soil is tightly packed water. Form bigger particles, more closely resembling loose sand are flat, like compost or,! Ways to reduce compaction in existing lawns or gardens, or shovel to and... In diameter and 3 inches long, I will return to keep you Updated if the soil across a and... `` hard '' water see any noticeable effect and do not penetrate well when applied the for... The introduction of water wo n't affect the pH of your soil to produce a richer more! For improved plant growth soil cores that are heavily weathered or subject to intensive crop production to backfill around.. And sowing bulk at a landscape supply store or a feed store ; buying the... Plants will struggle to thrive in clay soil is a whole different kettle fish. Case adding gypsum to create more air pockets, as will arid and coastal with. Of Pennington Seed, Inc. all Rights Reserved loose sand everything is red clay soil do...