I then came across this site and now realize what a mistake, "Very informative and easy to follow. By taking steps to improve and maintain your heavy clay soil, you can enjoy all the benefits clay offers and reap the rewards of healthy soil and plants. Add calcium. Growing plants or grass in clay soil is almost impossible because the clay does not retain the proper nutrients. ", "I've been planning a garden for a long time. This will help the plant's roots break through the clay. Organic matter will help the plants get the proper nutrients and also help build increased humus (not to be confused with "hummus") with additional microbes that are the building blocks of good soil. Soft water is achieved by removing calcium and magnesium from the water. ", clay, a nightmare and very hard work, but after reading this I know what to do. ", "The whole article was very helpful, each step had great advice! Clay soils in commercial agricultural sites are often treated with gypsum to help break up the clay and enhance calcium, which breaks up excess sodium. If it takes less than 12 hours to drain, you can safely plant anything that requires well-drained soil. If you have topsoil with clay underneath, do not till. This article received 17 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. We live in Southern California in an area where the soil is mostly thick, grey clay, and there are ten magnolia trees on our street that have been thriving. Gypsum as Soil Conditioner. ", structure of the soil. All trademarks are either the property of Central Garden & Pet Company, its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliated and/or related companies or the property of their respective owners. This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. ", "I found the article very detailed and easy to understand. ", that would have been. Myth #3: Gypsum for lawns is a great liming material and will effectively raise soil pH. Gypsum has been found to be particularly effective in areas where the soil has a high salt concentration. For example, choosing plants that like very dry or excessively acidic soil can be an uphill battle. According to Ed Hume Seeds, gypsum will recondition your clay soil. Salts from fertilizers and winter de-icing solutions build up in heavy clay as well. This common disease can undermine your harvest of garden favorites such as tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and melons. This article has been viewed 251,925 times. Adding gypsum to vegetable gardens helps prevent calcium deficiency, a primary cause of blossom end rot disease. Dealing with Sandy Soils. Once soil is tightly packed, water and air penetration is reduced and root growth suffers. When laying your materials, aim for an equal mix of coarse sand and coarse organic material for optimum drainage and nutrients. Some gardeners add gypsum (rock) to their clay soil. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Once compacted, clay restricts water, nutrient, and air movement, leaving plants vulnerable to root diseases and nutrient deficiencies.1 And, like your garden shovel, tender new roots hit a wall of hard clay when they try to grow. You can also add humus to help the plant. The sodium on the clay binding sites can then be leached from the soil with irrigation water or rainfall. It would be fun to grow fruit trees now that I know what to do. In areas with heavy clay, it's a good idea to test your soil every three to four years.1. If you're new to soil sampling, your local county extension agent can help with advice and soil testing kits. If you have an existing lawn that is suffering from compaction, using gypsum will also help relieve compaction in most clay or heavy soils. ", a yard except to fill in the yard, definitely not for growing plants. The calcium supplied by gypsum displaces the sodium held on the clay-binding sites. He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Directions for use it are included in the package. How Does Gypsum Help in Plant and Soil Health? The scale goes from 0 to 14, with 0 being very acidic, 7 being neutral, and 14 being very basic. You can also use gypsum to recover damaged soil. It's an ideal amendment for improving soil structure and relieving compaction in existing lawns and gardens. Walking on your lawn or garden when its wet is a common cause. Gypsum is a powdered soil amendment that landscaping experts frequently recommend for loosening hardpan clay soils. Gypsum also improves sodic (saline) soils by removing sodium from the soil and replacing it with calcium. To amend clay soil, add builder's sand and gypsum to create more air pockets and increase the soil's drainage. The adding of gypsum is not a substitute for adding organic matter like compost. Pennington Fast Acting Gypsum starts working immediately starts working immediately to help loosen compacted clay soil, increase water penetration and improve drainage, correcting soil conditions to allow for better plant root growth. There are two main types of amendments: those that add calcium directly to the soil and those that dissolve calcium from calcium carbonate (CaCO3) already present in the soil. Miserable stuff, though mineral rich. You can grind the leaves and spread it all over the lawn. I recommend doing a simple test to see if your soil needs Gypsum or not. How to Apply Gypsum to Clay Soil. Once I started reading, now I am hooked. When laying your materials, aim for an equal mix of coarse sand and coarse organic material for optimum drainage and nutrients. After you've amended the soil, continue to monitor the pH balance to ensure that the proper levels continue to be met, or else continue to acidify the soil as needed. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. In this case adding gypsum to your clay soil will do no harm but neither will it solve your problem. However, for a quicker option, for example, in planting holes, use a … Avoid the temptation to amend the soil you use to backfill around plants. Batture dirt is not friendly to, "The article was clear and easy to read. This helps with drainage, allows your lawn to breathe. I ordered fine sand to add to the clay and after, "I need to lawn my garden, so this article has helped a lot. However, you can amend or alter the soil to produce a richer soil more suitable for planting. (It will take several months to get the full effect. This is supposed to accomplish softening by improving the structure of the compacted clay soil. Mix the soil in a bucket and pick out any debris such as grass roots, sticks or rocks. Gypsum works on the clay, breaking it up into small crumbly pieces making it easier to work with and also improves drainage. I didn't need to test the soil as I could see it was, "I am a first-time fruit tree planter. Will grass cuttings help improve clay soil quality? He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Purchase in bulk at a landscape supply store or a feed store; buying by the bag is much, much more expensive. Gypsum is non-toxic and it will not harm vegetation. Calcium amendments include gypsum (hydrated calcium sulfate) and calcium chloride. Adding gypsum at planting time keeps calcium plentiful, so fruit can ripen without end rot. On the other hand, many plants will struggle to thrive in clay soil, regardless of how effectively you amend it. Gypsum adds calcium and sulfur—essential plant nutrients—to your soil. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Gypsum can be spread over plants, as it is not harmful to... 3. Find your local county extension office and get a soil testing kit. Tillage and aeration are the two surest ways to reduce compaction in the soil. 1. But you need to be aware that even with the best application practices, it can take up to three years for it to take full effect. You can also add organic matter, like compost or manure, to increase the nutrients in the soil. It is very important to use coarse sand such as builder's sand, not fine-textured sand such as play sand, as this will make the situation worse. Because you're going to be spreading this mix over a large area, you will need bulk quantities: Instead of thinking in terms of square feet, think in terms of cubic yards--one cubic yard of material will provide a three-inch layer on 100 square feet. Dig in any remaining on the surface in spring. Adding materials such as organic compost, pine bark, composted leaves and gypsum to heavy clay can improve its structure and help eliminate drainage and compaction problems. It is approximately 23% calcium and 18% sulfur by weight. This article has been viewed 251,925 times. We grow a garden every year and we tried to get the ground right. BREAK DOWN CLAY SOIL IN A PLANTING HOLE Add powdered gypsum at the rate of two to three handfuls per square metre, then dig the soil over and water it in. If your water is basic, it is "hard" water. If good quality builder's sand is not readily available, you may want to chose to try either green sand or gypsum as an alternative to the sand. The downside to just aerating the soil instead of tilling it is that dense lumps of clay may still exist after soil loosening. Hard water is generally what groundwater ends up being, mainly because it doesn't erode the pipes that contain it and transport it around. When you wrestle with heavy, compacted clay in your lawn and garden, your body and your plants can show the strain. Adding materials such as organic compost, pine bark, composted leaves and gypsum to heavy clay can improve its structure and help eliminate drainage and compaction problems. Last Updated: March 28, 2019 This soil is common to many parts of the world, limiting what homeowners, gardeners, and farmers can grow. % of people told us that this article helped them. I also have huge amounts of compost that I know must go on before the sand. Avoid adding sand or peat moss to clay; they can make those problems worse.1. With the exception of the arid western United States and our coastal areas (where sodium can be high and clay soils may be common), adding gypsum as a soil-softening amendment is … Pennington with design is a registered trademark of Pennington Seed, Inc. Fast Acting is a trademark of Encap, LLC. Improving soil structure and relieving compaction aren't the only ways that gypsum benefits your lawn and garden. If it takes between 12 and 24 hours for the hole to drain, you can safely grow plants that tolerate heavy soil or clay environments. Gypsum is chiefly used to amend sodic soils. Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. Gypsum Super Aerator. The only function of scientifically proven amendments is to provide soluble calcium to replace exchangeable sodium adsorbed on clay surfaces. "Adding mulch to sand is a whole different kettle of fish to adding it to clay." Gypsum can be the solution to your clay soil problem. If you don't have a tiller, you can use a broadfork, pitchfork, or shovel to loosen and aerate the soil. Clay soil can provide an excellent foundation for healthy plant growth, Compacted clay inhibits healthy growth for grass and other plants, Soil amendments such as organic matter and gypsum improve heavy clay and relieve compaction, Gypsum enhances your soil and delivers extra benefits to your garden, Pennington Fast Acting Gypsum starts working immediately, lime adds calcium and makes soil less acidic, North Carolina Extension Gardener Handbook: Soils and Plant Nutrients, How to Grow Flowers, Herbs and Vegetables Indoors, How to Identify, Fight and Prevent Root Rot. Clay soil is a very dense substance that can cause major drainage problems for your plants. Backfill with the soil you dug out of the hole instead, and fertilize a wider area later on to encourage the plant's roots to spread out. In this environment, tilling will make the problem worse by mixing clay in with your topsoil. Apply gypsum at 1 kilo per square metre, digging this into the top 10-15cm well. The core aerifier should remove soil cores that are approximately three-fourths of an inch in diameter and 3 inches long. Always read product labels thoroughly and follow instructions. It may take a little longer than normal to get the results back in the spring because of the volume of requests. Amending your soil properly can overcome heavy, compacted clay and get it back on track for healthy lawn and garden growth. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 251,925 times. If the soil is a very heavy clay, then this … pH is a scale of how acidic or alkaline a material is. Truth: The structural improvement effects of gypsum are often short-lived and need to be repeated from year to year. In following years, build on your efforts by adding 1 to 3 inches of organic mulch as a topdressing each year.1 As it decomposes, it continues to gradually improve clay soil. One of the most popular organic additives is gypsum, a light powder similar to lime. It can be applied directly to the surface of your soil to loosen it and improve the condition of the soil. Acidic water is "soft." reading this I was able to change my order to coarse sand. Many clay soils do benefit from the addition of Gypsum. If it takes more than 24 hours for the hole to drain, you can pretty much only plant trees that can hold up to occasional flooding, like balsam fir or red maple. While lime adds calcium and makes soil less acidic, gypsum adds calcium without affecting your soil pH. Several commercial products are now on the market for amending sodic and saline-sodic soils. Thank you. But an indoor garden can exercise your green thumb all year long — and liven up your home, too. Gypsum changes the soil composition through a process called flocculation. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. For example, North Carolina State University (NCSU) advises gypsum doesn't work on the type of clay soil found in North Carolina. Adding too much lime to soil can damage it as much as having high acid levels. What can we do? wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Yes, but you need to add a thick layer--around 8 inches--preferably in autumn where if kept wet will rot down over the winter. When planting in clay soil, dig a hole and scar the sides to create uneven surfaces. Gypsum effectively changes the structure and fertility of heavy clay soils, especially those that are heavily weathered or subject to intensive crop production. Clay becomes compacted for many reasons. For a better result, do it from late autumn to early spring. Core aerification is the best way to improve growing conditions for lawns established on clay soils. Gypsum can reclaim high-sodium or "sodic" soils. How do I amend clay soil if I don't have money? Fingers crossed, I will return to keep you updated. ", it with supplements. It won't affect the pH level, but can improve the soil texture. Healthy, well-maintained clay soil translates to less work for you and less stress on your lawn and garden. Another benefit to adding gypsum to your soil is that it can help neutralize acidic soils and reduce aluminum toxicity that usually comes along with it. Adding a handful of gypsum per square metre of clay soil helps to improve the structure of the top layer of the soil. It's hard, clay is something that's really difficult to grow in, especially sweet potatoes. To amend clay soil, add builder's sand and gypsum to create more air pockets and increase the soil's drainage. It is near the forest, so I have the availability of leaves to mulch over it to add compost. They are more expensive, but act in the same manner to force the clay particles apart allowing to addition of more water and air. Sandy soils are much different than clay soils. Amending your soil with organic matter helps improve its structure. While there are reports of gypsum raising pH, this is mainly restricted to agriculture and not so much for lawns. The advantage of the broadfork is that you're not disturbing the essential soil structure, which helps the microorganisms that call the soil their home. The first step is to add gypsum to the soil. References According to the University of California Vegetable Research and Information Center, gardeners can add a pound of gypsum for every 5 square feet of garden space to improve clay soil. Aerate your lawn. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. A hand spreader will be more effective for applying gypsum to an established flower or garden area. Soils with a high proportion of exchangeable sodium (Na+) lose structure. The soil has been up and down, but fertilizer helps a lot. This way, the introduction of water won't affect the pH of your soil, although it can quickly get expensive. Do you enjoy the uplifting show of spring bulbs every year? ", http://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/best-plants-to-grow-in-clay/, http://www.bachmans.com/Garden-Care/divHomePage.html?cnb=GardenCare&categoryCode=02&pageIndex=_pageIndexToken_workingWithClaySoil, http://www.bachmans.com/Garden-Care/divHomePage.html?cnb=GardenCare&categoryCode=02&pageIndex=_pageIndexToken_acidifyingSoil, http://durham.ces.ncsu.edu/files/library/32/UNH%203.PDF, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. By using our site, you agree to our. Gypsum is easily applied to the soil surface with a regular lawn spreader. I will now use gypsum. Pennington is here to help you overcome lawn and garden challenges and grow the best lawn and garden possible, in heavy clay and every other soil type. It’s this that makes Gypsum so good for clay soil. The same properties behind clay's benefits also present its biggest challenge. Where the soil is acid, lime can be applied, but elsewhere it is better to add gypsum. The gypsum enables the small and dense clay particles to join together to form bigger particles, more closely resembling loose sand. Your soil test or extension agent can help you determine the right amount of organic matter for your soil. By adding elemental sulfur or iron sulfate, By adding cottonseed meal, sphagnum moss, or other compost. Clay soil is high in minerals that plants need for growth, but it can also be high in acidity or contain more salts than plants prefer. The most economical way is to add gypsum which supplies calcium. It is a good idea to do this in both the fall and spring, before you seed and fertilize, so that the seed and fertilizer gets down to the bottom. ", "All the information seems like solid good advice.". If you leave straight, flat walls, the roots may circle around in the hole. It is a Good Source of Sulfur and Calcium. The gypsum releases soluble calcium which takes the place of some of the sodium stuck to the clay particles and this loosens the soil by breaking apart the particles. Gypsum is the active ingredient of many commercial ‘clay improvers’. Set a lawn spreader or hand-held garden spreader to 40 pounds per 1000 square feet for existing lawns or gardens, or... 2. Place the paper in trenches cover with soil. The calcium is quickly available making it a good choice for mixing into soil to prevent blossom-end rot in vegetable crops. This is a long explanation, but the simple fact is that adding gypsum to clay soil can’t do any harm and often does a lot of good. 1. The individual particles that make up your clay are extremely small compared to other soil types such as sand, silt or loam.1 Thanks to the surface area of all those small particles, clay soil has a greater capacity to hold water and nutrients your lawn and garden needs. What can I add for drainage if my yard is all clay and I need to plant grass? How to Apply Gypsum to Clay Soil 1. Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. Garden centers and lawncare services often advise applying gypsum(calcium sulfate) to your lawn to “decompact” a hard soil. I have grass planted in heavy clay soil. Pure, filtered water is about as neutral as you'll get. Very helpful. How can I renovate the new lawn I have without tilling the soil? While gypsum is useful in many ways, this gypsum myth applies only to gypsum as a soil acid neutralizer. Had no idea about type of soil needed or how to test pH, how to alter the, "I have learned what is needed to fix the clay soil problem that I have in my yard. But don't despair. Even if you're certain you have heavy clay—and have the clods on your boots and tools to prove it—take time to test your soil before you make changes. The calcium in Gypsum improves flocculation or soil … It addressed what pH is, how to determine the soil's pH, and how to adjust, "I was told to add sand, so I got bags of fine sand. Applying gypsum is easy to do and is a relatively cheap way to improve the heaviest of clay soils. Clay particles are flat, like plates, instead of rounded like grains of sand. With flamboyant, whorled flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds, hibiscus (H. rosa-sinensis) lights up the summer garden like few other flowering shrubs do. Gypsum will not alter pH levels. You can improve it by adding limestone and small amounts of sand. To learn how to make your soil more acidic, keep reading! Of course, that's why I gave an example on clay as well. As a general rule, when possible, add a layer of 3 to 6 inches of organic matter on your soil before planting, and work it down into the top 10 to 12 inches—where most roots grow. A mineral that does not affect soil pH. Some, but not all, clay soils respond to extra calcium, which causes the soil particles to flocculate (clump together). Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Additionally, they will help lower the pH of the soil, acidifying it. A college or university in your area may have an agricultural office that can help you as well. ", "I liked the that the steps were so readily quantified and specific. A soil test takes the guesswork out of your starting point, so well-intentioned soil work doesn't backfire and make things worse. Managed well, clay soil typically requires less irrigation and less fertilizer, and leads to healthier plants all around. Clay soil offers many benefits, but it can need a hand to reach its potential. You should first check what type of clay soil is in your region. Instead, NCSU … If you want to stay on the safe side, get pure, filtered water. Another occasion when gypsum is often introduced in a … As time ... 2. Water often puddles on the surface of these soils. Thank you. A lawn spreader will be more effective for ... You can apply gypsum at any time of the year. Compacted clay lawns benefit from annual aeration.1 Core aeration cuts into clay and removes a small core of thatch and soil that gradually disintegrates on the surface. Our clay in Tennessee was hard, thick, and rocky. Gypsum is a good source of calcium and sulfur which is essential for improved plant growth. Openings left by the cores allow water, air and nutrients into the clay, so those essentials stay available and grass can grow healthy and strong. It will take a sustained approach of applying gypsum over a few years before you will see any noticeable effect. We live in central Virginia and everything is red clay soil. Thanks. Overcoming the Difficulties of Planting in Clay Soil Bring in a new layer of topsoil if your plants are … Another way is to improve clay soil texture is to add gypsum. If you live in the west and your soil is compacted due to alkalinity then applications of gypsum should gradually clear up the problem, though it takes time. Approved. Gypsum works on the clay, breaking it up into small crumbly pieces making it easier to work with and also improves drainage. Gypsum enhances soil without affecting soil pH and provides calcium to prevent blossom end rot disease. I found just what I needed to know. To learn how to make your soil more acidic, keep reading! Spread the soil across a newspaper and allow it to dry. Soil in the Southeast U.S. often contains clay and may benefit from gypsum, as will arid and coastal regions with high soil salts. Aeration helps relieve soil compaction by creating holes that allow water and nutrients to penetrate. Flocculation, or aggregation, is needed to give favorable soil structure for … How to Add Gypsum to Soil. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Amend-Clay-Soil-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Amend-Clay-Soil-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Amend-Clay-Soil-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1053199-v4-728px-Amend-Clay-Soil-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"