Re: Clay soil
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: Clay soil
- From: C* &* J* S* <c*@gte.net>
- Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 21:12:56 -0600 (MDT)
Mike Lowe wrote:
>
> I have seen considerable discussion (and cussin') on clay soil since the
> iris-l inception -- however I have never seen 'land plaster' (finely ground
> gypsum) mentioned.
>
> It has been used extensively in Virginia to modify the tilth and water
> handling properties of heavy clay soil. It acts as a flocculation agent
> (modifies clay so as to form very small clumps rather than the usual
> homogenous plastic mass) and greatly improves the 'workability' of clay
> soils. It also modifies the water handling/penetration/retention of clay
> soils.
>
> Do we have anyone on the list who can give additional information? I garden
> in soil one step removed from beach sand and have no practical experience
> with this.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Mike, mikelowe@tricities.net -- http://www.tricities.net/~mikelowe/
> http://www.worldiris.com
> South Central Virginia, USA USDA Zone 7A, pH-5.4, very sandy loam
I hope this helps. When we bought the lot we are now living on, the
previous owners had put 2 foot of river bottom clay down. We worked a
spot for 2 years. Added sand, peat & humus, mulch & everything else we
could think of including perlite & such. Still had a 2 foot taller mass
of clay. Then my husband went to the hardware store & bought several
bags of gypsum. It could still use a little more but we could grow
squash & orka there this year.
I went home to LA & brought back 5 bails of rice straw. We mulched with
that, there this summer. Will till that in this fall. But until we put
the gypsum in it was a hopeless mess. I don't know what it will do for
iris beds. Just know that was our only help.
Janice
Baytown.TX
