Clay soil - Knowledgebase Question

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Question by amkch1
June 15, 2008
My back yard used to be a truck farm many years ago by the people who owned it then. Now, the area where I have as my garden is nothing but clay soil where only weeds and dandelions (and my green onions!) will grow - nothing else will grow in it. How do I repair the soil so crops will grow there?


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Answer from NGA
June 15, 2008
Since it was once a truck farm, you'd expect that the soil would be wonderfully rich. However, I'd be concerned about the area that won't support vegetation. It might be worth the time and trouble to have the soil tested. Perhaps it was a site where petroleum products or animal waste or excess pesticides were dumped. If so, you wouldn't want to garden there. You can contact a private soil testing lab or sometimes state universities will offer soil analysis. It might be that the soil is contaminated and not fit for growing things, or it could be that it is simply depleted and all you'll need to do is incorporate some organic matter.

Look in the phone book under "county" for your local Cooperative Extension office, or find a private soil testing lab. Once you have the results back you can decide how to fix the problem.

Best wishes with your garden!

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