Q: We recently purchased a new home, and the seller told us the soil is "poor" and mostly clay. I want to plant a large garden this spring. How can I be sure the soil will be perfect for my planting?
A: Well, you can work with what you have and amend it by adding plenty of organic matter in the form of compost, shredded leaves, mulch, mushroom compost, peat moss, ground bark, etc. Are you getting the picture? There are plenty of products you can buy in bag or bulk to incorporate into your heavy clay soil. The same trick works for loose sandy soil too. Adding organic matter is a great idea no matter what type of soil you start with. Add about four inches of amendments and incorporate them into the soil to a depth of about 12 inches. You could till it in but you won’t get down to 12 inches that way. If you’re really serious about improving your existing soil, use a turning fork and mix it in that way. There’s no denying, it’s hard work but the results will reward you for years to come.
Another way is to start with raised beds. I’ve done this many times as a way to start from scratch. I’ve built the raised bed frames and added top soil (70%), compost (10%), composted cow manure (5%), composted pine bark or mulch (10%) and worm castings (5%). You don’t need to worry about exact ratios but by adding a mix of organic ingredients; you’ll start off with instant awesome soil that is full of organic nutrients and should provide excellent soil drainage and water retention at the same time. That’s the best of both worlds!
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