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Re: type of soil to use



Steve & Marilyn Allen wrote:

> We also have clay here in zone 7-Oklahoma, commonly known as black gumbo.
> Hot!  Hot!  Hot!!  I do know what you mean about the "clay" turning into
> "bricks".  The soil is soooo poor.  We resolved that problem by building
> raised beds from untreated 2 x 10's.

Clay is not usually "poor" soil. It has the advantage of retaining LOTS of
moisture and the fine particles usually make a lot of nutrients available to
plants, unlike sandy soil. The trick is to cover the clay with organic material
- which is basically what you did with your raised beds. My guess is that most
of your plants have drawn a lot of their sustenance from the underlying clay
rather than from the topsoil you added, unless you applied a very thick layer
(which would have been a waste).

A moderately thick (10 cm / 3 inch) mulch layer of straw or compost keeps my
red-brown clay moist and soft. It keeps the soil cool, which helps the plants
in our severe summers. It also prevents erosion. I simply part the mulch to
plant seedlings. Because we get no rain all summer, the mulch does not break
down much until the winter rains. In a rainy area, you may have to spread
another layer of mulch in mid-summer (a good way to use those grass
clippings!).
Mulching, drip irrigation, and sqft techniques work together beautifully to
help me exploit the best qualities of the clay soil and conserve moisture in my
hot and dry climate. Constant planting and mulching of the sqft beds quickly
builds up a soil layer with more organic matter and a lighter texture. I find
the young seedlings make strong root growth in the lighter layers, then
penetrate the heavier clay layers to draw up moisture. Of course, these root
systems decay into more organic matter, further improving the soil texture.

It is tempting to adapt sqft into a sort of large-scale container garden with
raised beds. But I love the technique so much that I have constantly extended
the space I plant. At a certain point, you're better off dealing with (and
caring for) the soil condition you have been given, rather than constructing
glorified flowerpots on the surface of your land. The labor and upkeep are less
in the long run.

Ben David


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