Improving clay soil

[Whitney168]

Have read endless articles on this as a result of Google, but thought I'd ask some real people!

What have you found that particularly improved your clay soil (and if it was a mulch, did you dig it in or chuck it on top and let the worms do the work ...)?

Thank you!

If it is particularly heavy clay, there might not be all that many worms to start with. First year I'd be tempted to dig in whatever organic matter you can lay your hands on, even things like spent compost from pots and tubs. You can also throw on handfuls of horticultural grit and dig that in too.

i used to buy mushroom compost and spread thickly in autumn and let the worms do their job over winter. If youve got the energy digging in is good, particularly before planting things. In a previous garden i did this for about 3 years and it made a difference.

also every time you plant something dig a large hole and back fill with fresh conpost so the roots have got something good to spread out into.

Mushroom compost for me too. It's relatively light so easy to move. We also had a ready supply of well rotted manure. I also used to make leaf mould - very easy, use compost from old pots and seaweed. Make your own compost too.

I also focussed on no dig and used a lot of cardboard as mulch. Soil is pretty good now.

Dig in some sharp sand.

Do you not end up with mushrooms if you use mushroom compost?

It's not so much whether we have the energy to dig in, it usually requires pickaxes or an auger with hefty drill. 😂I genuinely can't dig it, have to call husband in ...

Maybe a good hefty layer of mulch in the autumn will make it a bit easier in the spring.

I used a home made compost mulch spread on top. Took about 5 years to get really beautiful soil but there was an improvement from year one

The worms you get in humus rich stuff aren’t the same species as in soil, but as the mulch starts to break down to soil the worms will come. I’d try to spread thickly enough plant in it, then hopefully roots will start on the clay too.

I'd like to say this is Year 1, but we've actually been here (thinks ...) 16 years now - and I grew up here from when I was about 4 LOL. Only seriously got the gardening bug during lockdown though, and started on raised beds which were obviously much easier.

Now that I'm actually trying to attack some of the older borders, a more serious approach is required, and would also like to keep the new beds manageable so serious mulching is in order I think and just want to choose whatever will make most difference this year.

A neighbour has a huge oak tree, so will be on a leaf mould mission this year, so maybe from next year I'll have loads of that to use.

I tried digging in sand and compost late in our first spring here but couldn't get through the soil and ended up dumping it on top. I adding another 3 inches of compost that autumn and by the following spring I could plant fairly easily. I've continued to add 2-3 inches of compost in early spring and late autumn. It's year 4 now and the soil is still clay but noticeably easier to work with. My roses are thriving.