Problem with very compact soil

zipcode · July 11, 2016

So a friend has a very compact soil. An I do mean compact. But it's not what I would call clay, its color is kinda dark grey with pieces of black in it.
You know those black muds that you can find near waters, really 'greasy' and with a sulfury smell? This looks like that stuff but hardened (not all as black). And it has the same smell when dug. It's so ridiculously compact that without serious work, money and time I don't think it could be mixed with compost or something to make it normal (so pretty much out of the question).
So my question is if it is any good for growing stuff, and what would be most suitable? Besides the obvious fact that it is very compact, is it any good nutrient wise? Shouldn't the black stuff be organic matter?

brownrexx · July 11, 2016

I think that those slippery muds that you describe are actually that way because they contain lots of really tiny particles of clay that slide over each other.

That type of soil also excludes oxygen so it may be very difficult to get anything to grow in it. Lots of soil amendment with organic material to fluff it up is the only answer that I know of.

My Foot Smells · July 11, 2016

how far were you able to dig down?

sometimes when you punch through the top 6", another soil substructure lies beneath. I've got rock hard clay that you cannot drive a nail through once it firms up, however, during rainy stretches it gets slick as owl shat. water stands on top and looks like topography of state of Minnesota (land of lakes).

I have to go raised beds.

Nematode · July 11, 2016

Isn't that what Ohio is made of?

zipcode · July 11, 2016

I haven't dug all that much, but I guess 6 inches I did dig and it was the same. It has the problem of some smaller rocks mixed in, which makes digging a real pleasure. The top soil is fairly normal, brown soil, seemed ok at first, but it was only a layer of a few centimeters.

guruofgardens · July 11, 2016

I agree with My Foot Smells. Sounds like building raised beds would be the best for your vegetables. You may have to build really deep ones.

cjp1953 · July 12, 2016

:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nematode

Isn't that what Ohio is made of?

Some parts of Ohio have clay,others have rich farmland soil.Depends on your location.You see many corn,wheat and soybean fields across Ohio.

Nematode · July 12, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjp1953

:

Some parts of Ohio have clay,others have rich farmland soil.Depends on your location.You see many corn,wheat and soybean fields across Ohio.

Lots of good ground in... Ay, oh, way to go, Ohio.
Sorry when I see Cuyahoga Falls I hear the Pretenders...

cjp1953 · July 13, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nematode

Lots of good ground in... Ay, oh, way to go, Ohio.
Sorry when I see Cuyahoga Falls I hear the Pretenders...

Chrissie Hyne sorry if the spelling is wrong went to Firestone High School in Akron about 5 miles from here.I went to Akron North.We're about the same age.I remember her but was never a big fan.

July 11, 2016	#1
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	Problem with very compact soil So a friend has a very compact soil. An I do mean compact. But it's not what I would call clay, its color is kinda dark grey with pieces of black in it. You know those black muds that you can find near waters, really 'greasy' and with a sulfury smell? This looks like that stuff but hardened (not all as black). And it has the same smell when dug. It's so ridiculously compact that without serious work, money and time I don't think it could be mixed with compost or something to make it normal (so pretty much out of the question). So my question is if it is any good for growing stuff, and what would be most suitable? Besides the obvious fact that it is very compact, is it any good nutrient wise? Shouldn't the black stuff be organic matter?

July 11, 2016	#2
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	I think that those slippery muds that you describe are actually that way because they contain lots of really tiny particles of clay that slide over each other. That type of soil also excludes oxygen so it may be very difficult to get anything to grow in it. Lots of soil amendment with organic material to fluff it up is the only answer that I know of.

July 11, 2016	#3
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	how far were you able to dig down? sometimes when you punch through the top 6", another soil substructure lies beneath. I've got rock hard clay that you cannot drive a nail through once it firms up, however, during rainy stretches it gets slick as owl shat. water stands on top and looks like topography of state of Minnesota (land of lakes). I have to go raised beds.

July 11, 2016	#4
Nematode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: massachusetts Posts: 1,710	Isn't that what Ohio is made of?

July 11, 2016	#6
guruofgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: zone 5 Colorado Posts: 942	I agree with My Foot Smells. Sounds like building raised beds would be the best for your vegetables. You may have to build really deep ones.