Clay and rock alternatives

Salaam · August 19, 2014

Hello all,

I'd like to begin planning for next year. The soil around my house is clay and rocks. I haven't got it tested, but looking at my neighbour's gardens, it doesn't look very hopeful. This summer, I've grown everything in Earthtainers or fabric pots, and it's been a success, except for some fungus and/or lack of nutrients.

Next year, my hope is to have two gardens:

1. Backyard: Options are containers or raised beds.
2. Front yard: Raised beds or in ground.

My benefits analysis is as follows... Please correct me if I'm wrong:

Containers - excellent yield, expensive because I have to replace some of the grow media every year. The Earthtainers are especially expensive because I use potting mix. For the fabric pots, I can just add compost.

Raised beds - good yield, but I'm not sure how expensive the upkeep of the soil is. Do I need the same expensive potting mixes as Earthainers? Also, do I just place them on the clay as it is, or do I till the clay first? Do I mix the clay and some of the raised be soil? Do I need to remove all the rocks?

In ground - less yield, less expensive, but can I grow anything decent in this clay without major, major amendments?

So my question is, which would you all recommend?

Thanks!

Worth1 · August 19, 2014

Store bought tomatoes.

Worth

dustdevil · August 19, 2014

Get your soil analyzed. Then, decide what you are going to do.

Tania · August 19, 2014

Salaam,

What kind of inexpensive organic materials do you have access to?

I know that building new beds can be quite costly, but there are lots of organic options with inexpensive materials like straw, leaves, kitchen waste, coffee grounds, wood chips, tree trimmings, logs, etc.

For example, if you have tree logs and branches, you can build hugelkultur beds.

ANother option is to purchase compost, spread it 6-12" on top of your soil now and cover with 6" wood chips or straw - it will be ready for planting next spring, you will just need to move away the mulch layer to warm up the soil in spring, plant, and put the mulch back.

Another option is straw bale beds.

None of the above involves digging the rock and clay, which is good. Actually rock and clay are good things to have under your garden beds, as they are mineral rich.

There are more options to build your beds

It all depends what you have available and cheap or free.

Good luck with your new garden!
Tatiana

habitat_gardener · August 19, 2014

In my area, free horse-manure compost is available at a few places. It gets piled up at the horse-boarding places, and there's always a huge pile that's pretty good compost. I've used it for over a year and haven't gotten any weeds from it.

Tania · August 19, 2014

One note about free manure - please check with the supplier if the cattle ate any grass / hay sprayed with herbicides. The herbicide residue can stay in manure for a long time and can easily kill tomato plants.

Same warning applies to grass hay and straw.

Worth1 · August 19, 2014

What color is the soil andnis it really a clay like potters clay or more of a gumbo type soil.
I cant see the soil in your area being red as there has been recent glaciation in the area in the last tentthousand years or so.

I would also imagine the rocks would be of the round smooth cobblestone types.

If I am right and the ph is correct after a soil test and the application of proper amendments you could be sitting on a gold mine of a garden.

I have grown awesome plants on soil that was on top of grey potters clay with about 8 inches of sandy lome gravel stuff.

Dont underestimate the soil until you have tried.

Worth

Redbaron · August 21, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

What color is the soil andnis it really a clay like potters clay or more of a gumbo type soil.
I cant see the soil in your area being red as there has been recent glaciation in the area in the last tentthousand years or so.

I would also imagine the rocks would be of the round smooth cobblestone types.

If I am right and the ph is correct after a soil test and the application of proper amendments you could be sitting on a gold mine of a garden.

I have grown awesome plants on soil that was on top of grey potters clay with about 8 inches of sandy lome gravel stuff.

Dont underestimate the soil until you have tried.

Worth

My "clay" turn into awesome soil. Except for paper and mulch, all the work was done by earthworms. I am pretty lazy

Salaam · August 23, 2014

An update...

I'm getting a soil test along with recommendations done tomorrow. I'll let you know the results.

August 19, 2014	#1
Salaam Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 128	Clay and rock alternatives Hello all, I'd like to begin planning for next year. The soil around my house is clay and rocks. I haven't got it tested, but looking at my neighbour's gardens, it doesn't look very hopeful. This summer, I've grown everything in Earthtainers or fabric pots, and it's been a success, except for some fungus and/or lack of nutrients. Next year, my hope is to have two gardens: 1. Backyard: Options are containers or raised beds. 2. Front yard: Raised beds or in ground. My benefits analysis is as follows... Please correct me if I'm wrong: Containers - excellent yield, expensive because I have to replace some of the grow media every year. The Earthtainers are especially expensive because I use potting mix. For the fabric pots, I can just add compost. Raised beds - good yield, but I'm not sure how expensive the upkeep of the soil is. Do I need the same expensive potting mixes as Earthainers? Also, do I just place them on the clay as it is, or do I till the clay first? Do I mix the clay and some of the raised be soil? Do I need to remove all the rocks? In ground - less yield, less expensive, but can I grow anything decent in this clay without major, major amendments? So my question is, which would you all recommend? Thanks!

August 19, 2014	#4
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	Salaam, What kind of inexpensive organic materials do you have access to? I know that building new beds can be quite costly, but there are lots of organic options with inexpensive materials like straw, leaves, kitchen waste, coffee grounds, wood chips, tree trimmings, logs, etc. For example, if you have tree logs and branches, you can build hugelkultur beds. ANother option is to purchase compost, spread it 6-12" on top of your soil now and cover with 6" wood chips or straw - it will be ready for planting next spring, you will just need to move away the mulch layer to warm up the soil in spring, plant, and put the mulch back. Another option is straw bale beds. None of the above involves digging the rock and clay, which is good. Actually rock and clay are good things to have under your garden beds, as they are mineral rich. There are more options to build your beds It all depends what you have available and cheap or free. Good luck with your new garden! Tatiana __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase Last edited by Tania; August 19, 2014 at 02:48 PM.

August 19, 2014	#6
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	One note about free manure - please check with the supplier if the cattle ate any grass / hay sprayed with herbicides. The herbicide residue can stay in manure for a long time and can easily kill tomato plants. Same warning applies to grass hay and straw. __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase Last edited by Tania; August 19, 2014 at 02:47 PM.

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August 19, 2014	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Store bought tomatoes. Worth

August 19, 2014	#3
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	Get your soil analyzed. Then, decide what you are going to do.

August 19, 2014	#5
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	In my area, free horse-manure compost is available at a few places. It gets piled up at the horse-boarding places, and there's always a huge pile that's pretty good compost. I've used it for over a year and haven't gotten any weeds from it.

August 23, 2014	#9
Salaam Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 128	An update... I'm getting a soil test along with recommendations done tomorrow. I'll let you know the results.