Re: Cult: Clay Soil
- Subject: Re: Cult: Clay Soil
- From: l*
- Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 03:08:39 -0000
Thank you for all the responses about clay soil. After reading them
all, I think I do not have clay soil.
My soil is quite dark and has some organic matter on the surface. It
does become compacted, but I think it is due to the large number of
rocks in the soil (horrible to dig a new bed). There are alot of
large rocks, small rocks, and boulders sticking out of the ground
everywhere due to the glacial melt over the region. They say the
glacier in the ice age brought the rocks with it as it went south,
and when it melted it left them behind.
If I don't dig deep and get rid of the rocks and heavily compacted
soil, I notice new rhizomes do not seem to grow well.
Thanks again for the advice.
Laetitia
--- In iris-talk@y..., "rebloomva" <cfgeorge@c...> wrote:
> --- In iris-talk@y..., "lmmunro" <lmmunro@h...> wrote:
> > This may seem like a dumb question, but what does 'clay soil'
look
> > like?
>
> The best way to describe clay soil is to describe it's distinctive
> color. It has the same red-orange color as iron rust.
>
> >How does one know they have it?
>
> When you dig in clay, it comes up in BIG clumps. A Pick Mattock and
a
> good soaking with water works best for digging IMHO.
>
> > Is this a 'bad' soil for bearded iris, and if so, what does one
do
> > to remediate?
>
> Clay is full of nutrients, but it quickly becomes hard as a brick
if
> it is not amended with lots of compost and top soil. Clay is also
> acidic, so the pH usually needs to be amended. That is why most of
us
> with clay will either raise our beds or remove 2/3 and replace with
> quality top soil and compost.
>
> If you do have clay soil, do not use sand unless you want to grow
> bricks. Your rocks actually will help in the drainage since clay
does
> NOT drain well.
>
> I hope this helps.
> Connie
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