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Dec 3, 2013 8:55 PM CST
Name: Sheryl
Hot, hot, hot, Feenix, AZ (Zone 9b)
Region: Southwest Gardening Charter ATP Member Keeps Horses Dog Lover Cat Lover Permaculture
Butterflies Birds Cottage Gardener Herbs I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises
Hi Tim, welcome!

Before you even get to the soil, we have to figure out your "zone" - in other words, how hot and how cold your area gets, and what your first and last frost dates are. I just happen to have Google, right here... Big Grin

... and of course, there appears to be some disagreement, some places say 6b, some say 7a. You'll probably know best yourself, if you get a frost when a friend across town doesn't get any, then you're likely colder - or the complete opposite. The good news is that zone 7 has an awfully wide range of plants - you are more likely to be restricted by your water than your weather.

Clay soil, in my opinion, is not the worst soil in the world. It holds moisture better than any other soil (a good thing in the Southwest) and tends to have a higher nutrient content. For plants that need lighter soil, as you already know, you can amend it with organic matter - manure, compost, etc. or sharp sand to improve it's drainage. The one thing you don't want to do with clay soil is work it when it is really wet - I don't really understand why, but that's when it starts to look like bricks.

What are you interested in planting? Food garden or landscaping, or??
In the end, only kindness matters.

Science is not the answer, it is the question.


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