skip to main content

Depth to add Leaf Gro to clay soil

9 years ago

Hi...does anyone know how much Leaf Gro (depth in inches) to add to medium heavy clay soil? I grew 100+ dahlias last year for a designer and it was exhausting digging the tubers! I read somewhere 6" but can't afford that...$400!!! Think i could go with 4"??? Thanks. I am in zone 7A. Baltimore MD

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

User
9 years ago
Any amount is better than none at all in a very heavy soil (although Baltimore does not feature clay soils, it's silty sand--but can still be compacted).

Another thing you can do is feed organically through the season. Over time the soil will lighten and the worms do the aerating, turning, and lightening of the soil for you. I haven't tilled or turned my soil in nine years.
cicivacation
9 years ago
First, I am blessed with a good non-clay soil. I always mulch with material that will break down over the growing season and add to the soil composition, which has been improving annually to an already decent soil base. I am no-til, as well, and love not needing to disturb my worm population.

I have heard from growers in extreme clay areas that it is MUCH better to not mix the organic material into the clay as the clay will always win, but instead build raised beds to contain the good topsoil and compost, planting in that mix instead. One award-winning advanced grower used only mushroom manure in a raised dahlia bed a couple years ago, and had the best blooms ever. Personally, I'd be nervous to try that, but luckily, I have no need.

It sounds like your clay soil drains well enough, or else you'd be left with no tubers to dig. (No drainage equals drowned and rotted tubers) If you just want to lighten the soil, ANY additive should help, with no magic numbers to achieve. Do what you can, as you can. Try peat moss, mushroom manure, whole leaves applied in the fall after you have dug, coffee grounds by the five gallon pailful, garden compost.
Related Discussions
Depth of new soil over clay
Q
Comments (5)
Julianne Here in central Georgia, most of the growing area is red clay that can bake hard as a rock if unshaded. BUT. It's very fertile. Your gumbo clay is just as fertile but apparently it's "stickier" and is more difficult to aerate so adding organic matter is always recommended. I put compost and old bucketsful of planting mix directly on top of the clay and don't till it in. It keeps the clay beneath moist and friable. I do mix things up in the planting holes when I set out plants that I know will have burrowing roots such as tomatoes and melons. Haven't had a problem with the roots suffocating from the "basin effect" (a hole of friable soil not draining because of the clay around it) because we've been in drought for several years. I also heavily mulch around the plants with cardboard and leaves -- that brings earthworms in by the thousands. Eventually, slowly, the upper compost, mulch, and the clay beneath blend. The advice about having as much depth to a raised bed as you can manage is good advice, given the nature of the soil beneath. I think earthworm activity would be very beneficial, so you might want to put corrugated cardboard (provides some air spaces in the corrugations) directly on top of the clay soil and add compost or leaves on top of that in areas between plants. If kept moist, the cardboard should disintegrate in one season by chomping earthworm activity, and then you'll have at least an inch or two of the subsoil more friable and/or aerated. With careful management of raised beds, the subsoil also gradually improves, out of sight and mind!
...See More
Asparagus -- add clay soil or sand?
Q
Comments (5)
Can anyone tell the difference in the different Jersey varieties? 4 years ago I planted 10 crowns of Jersey Knight, Jersey Supreme and Jersey Giant. I cannot tell much of a difference, though I haven't kept track of how many spears I have harvested from each plant, just looking down the row it looks about the same. I am thinking with just a few plants it won't make much difference, maybe if you had acres it would show a difference in volume. This year I wanted 20 more plants and the Garden Center I bought from only had Jersey Knight and Jersey Supreme so I bought 10 of each. I planted them March 20 and as of last night I can see 18 plants. I live in WI and it was 80 when I planted them but now we are much more normal with getting frosts almost every night.
...See More
Miracle-Gro Garden Soil
Q
Comments (48)
You shouldn't use that product for containers. They make potting mix for that. I've used it to grow tomatoes and flowers in pots and it works fine. I agree with kimmsr that the MG Garden Soil is not really soil, as it has no mineral soil content but is basically composted organic matter. If you need soil, either 1) amend what you have (with compost, including MG Garden Soil), 2) if you need small amounts of additional soil, buy a bag of topsoil, or 3) if you need large amounts, buy a truckload of topsoil or amended topsoil from a garden center.
...See More
Miracle-Gro soil mix for potted maples?
Q
Comments (35)
Most plants are not good houseplant candidates, due in part to light levels too low and in primary because of low humidity. JMs are not an exception to that generality. When maples reach a stage of deep dormancy due to shorter days (actually, longer nights are the trigger) and increasing chill, the tree needs a certain number of chill units that only accumulate between 34.5 - 53.8* F to be released from dormancy in a state that allows the plant to grow normally. If the plant's chill requirements weren't met, at least several notable of many potential physiological issues are very likely to be made manifest in the upcoming growth cycle and in many cases, the next. Initiation of growth pretty much trumps the plant's ability to resist cold, so once the tree exits the dormant or quiescent state (quiescence occurs after the plant has had sufficient chilling to release it from dormancy, but temps remain too cold to stimulate top growth) it has to be kept from freezing. In a perfect world, the best spot for your plant would be something equal to a cold hoophouse where temps can be relied upon to stay above freezing and below 50*. Best luck. Al
...See More
niname1008
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the responses. I am planning on raising the beds as best i can with 3" leaf gro. We are 25 miles west of Baltimore and DO have clay but not extremely heavy. The garden I am using for the dahlias has been in veg production for more than 40 years. It is LOADED with worms. My chickens had a feast when i was digging the tubers! The dahlias did great last year! I also do not want to till these beds annually. My biggest thorn will be the weeds. I covered the entire 30x60 bed with commercial weed cloth last year. Worked great but i know the weed seeds last forever!!! There are going to be 15 16'x3' beds with 4' paths that i will put cloth on again. But haven't decided how to deal w weeds in the beds besides hand weeding... Grass clippings? I don't have time to waste....thanks for any ideas!
cicivacation
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
A speaker at the last club meeting suggested four layers of newspaper under any type of mulch to keep weeds at bay through the growing season. The newspaper and mulch break down and add to the soil composition when you dig the tubers.

He added that color inks in newsprint are all made with vegetable dyes and not of heavy metals like they used to be, so color newspapers are safe to use in the garden.

Edited to add...

The speaker was a director of a University Agricultural Extension Office.
niname1008 thanked cicivacation

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Gardening Solutions for Heavy Clay Soils

By Falon Mihalic

What’s a gardener to do with soil that’s easily compacted and has poor drainage? Find out here

GARDENING GUIDES How to Stop Worrying and Start Loving Clay Soil

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Clay has many more benefits than you might imagine

FARM YOUR YARD How to Get Good Soil for Your Edible Garden

By Abundant City

The nutrients in your soil feed the plants that feed you. Here are tips on getting it right — just in time for planting season

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Rhus Aromatica ‘Gro-Low’ Handles Many Tough Sites

By Pollination Press LLC

Plant ‘Gro-Low’ fragrant sumac in eastern and midwestern U.S. gardens for its tolerance of tough sites, spreading form and orange fall color

PURPLE FOLIAGE 5 Purple-Leaf Majesties of Shrubs

Looking for beautiful depth and dynamism in your landscape? Just add purple

GARDENING GUIDES The Poop Scoop: Enrich Your Soil With Good Old Manure

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Get over the ick factor already — this natural super-ingredient for soil has so many benefits, you'll wonder why you ever went chemical

GARDENING GUIDES Get the Dirt on Your Garden’s Soil

By Falon Mihalic

Understand how your soil supports your plants so you can ensure your garden’s success

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Shape a Rain Garden and Create the Right Soil for It

By Falon Mihalic

Learn how to grade, lay out and amend the soil in your rain garden to support your plants

GARDENING GUIDES How to Pick a Mulch — and Why Your Soil Wants It

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

There's more to topdressing than shredded wood. Learn about mulch types, costs and design considerations here

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Solutions for Soggy Soil

By Steve Asbell

If a too-wet garden is raining on your parade, try these water-loving plants and other ideas for handling all of that H2O

Sponsored

Columbus Premier Design-Build and General Contractor

More Discussions

Can I start Dahlias inside in cardboard boxes instead of pots?

6