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Cathy, Compost, comost, compost!!!!!!! Get a bag or load of manure...... mix it together and throw on top of your dirt...... Every year you do this the worms will come up from the bottom and take that compost with them, keep readding it...... They love that stuff. Can you make your own. Do you have access to leaves on your property? Lawn mower then to shredd's and throw them in a pile or compost pile. I'll send you any info on composting if you'd be interested. To get you started it that's the direction you'd like to go......
I personally have 7 bins and I'd have 10 more if my poor dear hubby would let me.... I love it and that way there is hardly any work to weeding when it comes time for that.
Give me some more info and I'll send some sites to you.
Happy Gardening!!!!!! Weezie
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
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Working with clay soil is a lot of back breaking work... I know!!!! Add a lot of tree roots and big rocks and it's even more of a challenge-- but that's what i deal with! Weezie is right about adding compost to your soil and working it in. It takes time and patience. I saw this web site about clay soil. It does list a few plants that might adapt better to clay soil than others. http://www.angliangardener.co.uk/green_up_your_fingers/clay_soil.htm
I kind of went thru a list of plants myself and there aren't very many plants that like clay soil. I did see Hostas. U might want to check into Asters. There are so many varieties of Asters. They have Asters for shade, Asters for dry soil, Asters for sun, and Asters for poor soil!!! Another idea is to check and see what kind of native flowers grow in the soil in your area. Sometimes those are easiest to grow. I know i see wild flowers growing in this Caroina clay soil.. I even dug up a wild aster with beautiful blue flowers and a yellow center. It turned out absolutely beautiful in my garden ( just a mass of petite flowers). Last fall, i went around and found some more and transplnted them.This coming week i might dig up some "queen anne's lace" and find a place in my garden to put. some people would look upon it as a weed, but i like to variety. It's amazing what wild flowers do when u give them a little attention. I might be going to Lake Jocasse this coming week.. http://www.griztrax.net/sea_yakking/Lake_Jocassee.html I might get to see some wild flowers there. There is one flower (rare and i believe endangered) called, The Oconee Bell that is located on Jocassee. http://ncnatural.com/wildflwr/oconebell.html There also might be some lilies that tolerate clay. We have plenty of those tiger lilies growing wild here in SC. Hope it works out for u. Gardendreamer03@aol.com
* * * * Bob
Plants: 640 | From: in my garden | Registered: Jan 2003
| Seeded: 64.12.96.70
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Bob, Awesome site for the clay gardener, every question answered!!!! I grew up with clay soil (Blue clay actually) on the hill. And to this day I can still hear my father talking about the clay (well more than talking, using a few choice words as I remember correctly). All the info was right on the money!!!
I Love compost!!!!!!!!! I said before I have 7 bins and 2 large piles and I'd have 10 more if my bettter half would let me!!!!!!!! I can not speak more highly of compost. The benefits out way any work there might be involve. After I'm done loading, turning, sifting and appling I often wonder how I could go into business doing that?!!!!
Thanks for the Info!!!!!!!!!!!!! Weezie
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
My back yard is so full of clay it could be a play-dough factory. I also use compost, but have noticed that some plants do better than others.
Daylilies- keep them to beds of their own, since they will take over mixed beds, but they are beautiful toughies and don't mind sitting in clay.
Cytisus- (see the Broom discussion earlier this month here in Chat.)
Iris- I don't know if your clay is moist or not, but our red clay retains water and the iris love it. It helps to have it loosened a bit for good rooting by working in some compost.
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I have planted Mexican Heather and Indian Hawthorne in Louisiana clay and had a greate success. Hope this helps. Plants: 9 | From: Florida | Registered: May 2003
| Seeded: 67.31.199.48
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I too have clay soil; I try to mix in really good potting soil and compost when I plant anything. So far, I've had great luck with hostas, daylilies, dianthus, and house leeks. Boxwoods do fairly well. Purple basil grows in any kind of soil. As long as I use the aforementioned potting soil with nutrients, I've even had luck with impatiens. Hope this helps!
Plants: 3 | From: Oklahoma | Registered: May 2003
| Seeded: 65.64.49.241
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Thank You all for your help with my clay soil. Sorry I haven't been able to read till now! Life sure can get hectic.
I have always wanted to start composting, Weezie can you please send me info
I did just pick up seven 40# bags of Humus/manure and have added to all my existing beds. I'm glad to hear about the worms cuz' my beds seem to have alot of them!!! Again I apologize for the delay in this reply but the sites from all were also just wonderful. Thank you all!!!Cathy
Plants: 5 | From: MI Zone5 | Registered: May 2003
| Seeded: 67.72.207.122
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I even dug up a wild aster with beautiful blue flowers and a yellow center. It turned out absolutely beautiful in my garden ( just a mass of petite flowers). Last fall, i went around and found some more and transplnted them.This coming week i might dig up some "queen anne's lace" and find a place in my garden to put. some people would look upon it as a weed, but i like to variety. It's amazing what wild flowers do when u give them a little attention. I might be going to Lake Jocasse this coming week.. 
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