I am thankful to Helen for the one response I did receive.

I ended up amending the soil with course washed sand, pumice, and gypsum and of course I won't know for sure how well I did for a bit after the place begin growing and stay healthy. Though from what I've read it achieved the proper consistency.

I would test your soil. Dig a hole and fill it with water. If its really slow you have troubles.

Tom, Id be really interested in how it all goes. Keep us updated, if you don't mind. It's the sort of thing I'd love to do if I ever had the opportunity :-)

When I lived in Stockton, with similarly awful soil, I dug about 6 inches in and raised it up by about 4" and filled with a gritty mix. It worked perfectly, with endless drainage through the ground. In another area facing full south (much bigger area -- and I was exhausted from digging) -- I rototilled the clay soil and then poured in a bunch of different grit-type materials like lava rocks, pebbles and perlite to make a mix of sorts. It was easier and equally successful, I thought. In hindsight, though I only did that because digging the soil was such a PITA, it was better because leaving some of the native soil in kept some moisture. The summers there get quite hot!

So I ended up digging about six inches deep into the clay then adding washed large grain contractors sand, pumice, gypsum, and also added some of the crappy organic succulent soil I purchased before finding out about Al's Gritty Mix.

So far it seems to be working well as I think I have good soil consistency and therefore good drainage. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. As time goes by I'll keep updating this post. So you all can know how it's worked out.

The biggest PITA was digging and pulling up all the Lilies of the Nile and also getting all the black plastic out of the garden from the previous owners. I think those Lilies must have been planted in there years ago. I never imaged they would be that difficult to dig out. It was a lesson learned because I'll never plant them myself anywhere.

Tom my only (inexperienced) concern is that if you've dug out six inches of previous soil/clay and then filled that with the good draing mix, any rain/water would sit at the bottom of the hole? Even the roots growing into the clay that would take even longer to dry, I assume.

Please don't be offended at my child like drawings. I'm a very visual person and I don't always explain things clearly.

This is sort of what I was meaning as a drainage channel.

I think this is how you've got it now. The coloured bits are your mix that you've made.

When it rains the hole can't drain.

Some kind of pipe (or whatever works) that acts like a drainage hole in a plant pot. It would need to be fast draining. And it would need stones in the pipe so other stuff doesn't block it up. Insect screen at the beginning too (?).

I'm not saying that it won't work, just my over active mind....

Helen your drawing made me smile:).

I have the same crappy clay soil. First I dig the hole and fill it about a third of the way with my pumice/cactus mix, but I combine the crappy clay soil with my mix farther at the bottom. The more I fill the less I combine with the clay soil. Luckily most succulents roots stay fairly shallow. In fact I was digging a hole for an Aloe right next to my San Pedro and I couldn’t believe how shallow and wide their roots were. It’s all about that fast easy access to water.

It’s all going to be trial and error. As long as you do your research on the plants first, you should be fine. Will some die? Yes. But others will flourish. Heck I’ve stuck some succulents in the ground without any pumice mix, and they’re doin fine. It’s usually the Aeonium, Aloe, Agave, and Opuntia that don’t seem to care much.

Be careful of the sun because if the plants aren’t acclimated they will burn.

Yes id love to do similar one day, but not where I'm living right now ;-)

Helen, I actually have the same concern and I'm not sure how to remedy it, because on one side of the succulent garden is my home and on the other is my lawn. So I'm just not sure how I could make a drainage system that will actually work. I'll have to do some research regarding this.

Yes, I was wondering if it would be more complicated than I was envisioning.

I realize I'm about one year late to this party, but I just watched a good video on this subject. "Soil for Succulents with Tom Jesch" on Debra Lee Baldwin's YouTube.

One problem with planting succulents in the ground is that slugs find them so yummy !!!!