Hard Soil

[Tyshun Hampton]

I have hard soil im my garden. When it gets wet its sticky and very hard to manage. Should I remove most of the soil I have now and replace it with some store brought topsoil? or can I add anything to my soil to correct this?

[Rob-J]

rototill the soil and add pete moss or compost and bags of manure. Till the mixture together.

[William W. Plummer]

That's exactly what gypsum is for. It binds to the clay and allows water to get in to the soil.

[RoyDMercer]

Actually it's a myth that gypsum will break down clay soils. Gypsum is useful for some things like reducing the salt content in soil, but is almost never needed for residential use.

The most effective way to improve clay soil is by adding organic material.

[William W. Plummer]

Paul Parent, a respected (and degreed) horticulturist recommends gypsum. See

and search for "gypsum". Here's one quote from his page. Clean your gardens of branches, leaves, and dead foliage you forgot to remove in the fall from your plants. It's also a good time to apply limestone if your soils tend to be on the acid side and moss is a problem. If your soil is heavy and water seems to sit there, apply some garden gypsum to soften the soil and improve drainage.

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[RoyDMercer]

I have no doubt you can find several respected sources that will recommend gypsum for loosening clay soil. I've also seen it mentioned in many horticultural publications. For a number of years, I believed it myself. However the truth is it just doesn't work very well if at all. I say this based on personal experience and also from well respected sources. Here's what Paul James has to say on the subject:

[lois]

Use dish detergent to soften your soil- 1-2 drops per square foot. There is about 120 drops in a teaspoon, which would cover 120 sq feet at

1 drop/sq ft.

It doesnt make any difference how much water is mixed with the detergent. Its easiest to use a hose end sprayer. Apply at least days before digging or tilling.

A bucket or watering can is fine for small areas.

At an experiimental garden with Illinois clay, I compared Palmolive clear and Johnsons baby shampoo - The dish detergent was best - and surprise. it softened the soil for the whole season!! A professor had meter that read softness.

Its hard to find clear, but the amount is so small that I dont think the dyes in their gaudy colors would hurt - Its made so we can eat it!!!

[RoyDMercer]

Hmm, but the Palmolive would soften your hands also.

[Steve Parrish]