Clay-rich soil is not very suitable for gardening, but if you have to work with it to get a vegetable or flower garden, you need to know a few simple ways to make your work easier.
Clay soil, which contains at least 35-40% clay, is easily recognizable because it sticks to your shoes and gardening tools and dries with a cracked crust. This type of soil is often alkaline while the ideal pH for a garden is slightly acidic.
The advantages of clay soil
The density of the clay soil makes it retain moisture and be richer in nutrients than other types of soil. The particles in it are negatively charged and attract calcium, magnesium and potassium.
Many fruit trees and most shrubs grow well in clay soil, but annual and perennial vegetables and flowers face some difficulties and may require you to add a natural fertilizer to help break up the density of the clay.
Improving clay soil
Clay soil can be improved by adding a layer of 15-20 cm of organic matter, which you will have to mix well with the soil in your garden. You can use leftovers from mowed grass, chopped leaves, rotten manure or compost. Once you have evenly applied the layer of organic matter, you must mix it well with the top layer (15-30 cm) of clay soil in your garden. Once you did this, you can start planting immediately.