I have an allotment and the soil is full of clay every time i turn the soil it just goes hard again do i?

Question

I have an allotment and the soil is full of clay every time i turn the soil it just goes hard again do i?

Answer 1

Everyone that has said to add compost is right. I have clay like concrete, and have been trying to make a garden. I also add a generous amount of Gypsum to the compost, it helps break down clay.

Answer 2

work peat moss into the clay

Answer 3

You need to add compost.  I had a plot of gray clay (the hardest of the hard soils), and I added aged manure from an unused barn, several garbage cans of old straw and a garbage can of wood shavings.  I worked it in when it was wet, and began to grow things in it.  The soil was still very hard for the rest of that year, BUT the next year, it became very loose and easy to work.  It was well worth the hard work of turning it over several times to work the stuff in.

Answer 4

Schultz has a clay soil conditioner, you work in. I would also add sphagnum peat & compost.

Take a sample to a garden center & let them know the size of the area so they can advise what & how much material you will need, also let them know how you want to use the area.

Good Luck

Answer 5

. . . goes hard again do i?   -  dig it again? well, I'm afraid you do but make sure you dig in as much rotted compost as you can and mix the compost with the soil as you dig it. Clay soil without any humus or compost is a real pain. Waterlogged in winter and set like concrete in summer. digging in vegetable matter is the only solution.