wow, I can't believe that's clay soil! You've done an amazing job, I was blown away to see you just dig your fingers into it so easily! :) Thanks for the tips!!
@jmpierce Thank you! I was surprised at how well it all turned out, since it was first garden. I really researched it alot. Really that expanded shale and the cotton burr compost did the trick! I'm looking forward to
this year, no hard work! Although.. now I'm thinking maybe I can squeeeeze in one more raised bed! loll
@hoyoguy - Thank you so much. I really was amazed at how well it came out. I researched it as much as I could and even created a little Excel spreadsheet to calculate the %s of each amendment. (lol ) It was about 3.5 cubic yards to blend in to the clay. Not to mention making SURE all the Bermuda grass was taken out. It was hard work but worth the extra effort! This year I can have a little more relaxing January/Feb! lol :-)
I tried to figure out what area you were in from accent. I guessed wrong. I figured midwest. Soil is so different around the USA. At my home in Illinois, black dirt and ready to grow. At my summer home in Wisconsin...sand sand sand. Keep up on your videos, I like them.
Hmmmmm, never heard of expanded shale before, but since it's light and porous, it sounds really good. I have a small quantity of something similar, in the bottom of my planters, but thought it was volcanic rock of some sort (it's probably the same stuff, lol)
aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/newsletters/hortupdate/hortupdate_archives/2003/nov03/Expdshale.htmlThe. Thats the Texas A&M site. The expanded shale doesn't break down. Cottonburr compost's function is to also help keep the soil loose. It doesn't add nutritional value and will breakdown over time. Beneficial organisms also keep it loose, so I'm adding more compost in (not the cottonburr kind..but the compost pile kind) !
You can't have chickens? Something is wrong there i think.
crazymoo56 10 months ago
@crazymoo56 Unfortunately city ordinances vary..depending where you live and also neighborhood Homeowners associations can restrict farm animals.
gardenvespers777 10 months ago
What a fabulous woman, im in the uk, and i have a whole garden full of clay.i will certainly be trying this xx
mick19jan 11 months ago
wow, I can't believe that's clay soil! You've done an amazing job, I was blown away to see you just dig your fingers into it so easily! :) Thanks for the tips!!
jmpierce 1 year ago
@jmpierce Thank you! I was surprised at how well it all turned out, since it was first garden. I really researched it alot. Really that expanded shale and the cotton burr compost did the trick! I'm looking forward to
this year, no hard work! Although.. now I'm thinking maybe I can squeeeeze in one more raised bed! loll
gardenvespers777 1 year ago
Very nice job. It takes a long time to correct most soils and yours looks fabulous.
hoyoguy 1 year ago
@hoyoguy - Thank you so much. I really was amazed at how well it came out. I researched it as much as I could and even created a little Excel spreadsheet to calculate the %s of each amendment. (lol ) It was about 3.5 cubic yards to blend in to the clay. Not to mention making SURE all the Bermuda grass was taken out. It was hard work but worth the extra effort! This year I can have a little more relaxing January/Feb! lol :-)
gardenvespers777 1 year ago
I tried to figure out what area you were in from accent. I guessed wrong. I figured midwest. Soil is so different around the USA. At my home in Illinois, black dirt and ready to grow. At my summer home in Wisconsin...sand sand sand. Keep up on your videos, I like them.
SleestaksRule 1 year ago
@SleestaksRule lol my accent is definitely deceiving! I'm originally from the northeast!
Yes, its hard to be a Giants fan in Cowboy country..although this year its been quite fun. lol
YES! Sand we have up there too!
I used to complain about it up there, but at least its not like a brick with the Texas clay!! lol.
But maybe amending sand is harder to do? I think the UCONN website may have something. on that.
gardenvespers777 1 year ago
Hmmmmm, never heard of expanded shale before, but since it's light and porous, it sounds really good. I have a small quantity of something similar, in the bottom of my planters, but thought it was volcanic rock of some sort (it's probably the same stuff, lol)
Helioforge 1 year ago
@Helioforge You can get additional info at :
aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/newsletters/hortupdate/hortupdate_archives/2003/nov03/Expdshale.htmlThe. Thats the Texas A&M site. The expanded shale doesn't break down. Cottonburr compost's function is to also help keep the soil loose. It doesn't add nutritional value and will breakdown over time. Beneficial organisms also keep it loose, so I'm adding more compost in (not the cottonburr kind..but the compost pile kind) !
gardenvespers777 1 year ago
@Helioforge oops.. bad link paste:
//aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/newsletters/hortupdate/hortupdate_archives/2003/nov03/Expdshale.html
(for some reason youtube doesn't like complete links and i messed up the end of it with a "THE")
gardenvespers777 1 year ago