Clay

I don't suffer from clay, but I had always thought that part of the solution was to add lime to improve the structure. It makes the little particles clump in to bigger particles and that helps drainage and aeration.
By the way I was looking for some lime and was only able to find expensive little boxes of what should be a low cost commodity. Where can I get some lime?

 

You should be able to get 25k bags of lime from any good garden centre. Lime doesn`t improve the structure of clay, it helps release the nutrients. To improve the soil structure you need to add humus, garden compost, well rotted manure, spent hops, that type of thing.

 

When I started gardening, I spent some time researching treatment for clay on the internet. A number of sites did mention lime treatment, but suggested Gypsum (Calcium sulphate) to be better as it doesn't raise the pH. However no one was very enthusiastic about it and it doesn't seem to be used much.

There is a good piece on improving clay here. http://home.clara.net/tmac/urgring/faqsoil1.htm

 

Found the answer to clay soils. House is up for sale, found a nice bungalow with a whopping great garden and NO clay soil. Leucojum

 

Well done Leucojum - now thats one solution that none of the sites mentioned :D

 

Leucojum, that solution is definitely not in The Garden Expert.

 

Its cheaper to buy lime from the builders merchants, I buy it at �£8 per 25kg sack.

For breaking up clay soil imo the best soulution is to fork in gritsand and mauare.

 

Well David, perhaps the old Doc dose'nt always no best? This was definitely a self diagnosis but the recommended treatment was by my good lady wife, sorry head gardener. Leucojum

 

Best of luck, and let us know what new garden is like asap. :D