Hard Soil - Knowledgebase Question

Phoenix, Ar
Avatar for dianamichael
Question by dianamichael
October 15, 2009
I have a planter and just purchased some Omni with the hopes it would help soften the hard soil in my planter and allow me to better prepare the soil for new plants. The area that once contained plants I removed is soft, but the area surrounding the softer areas is still very hard. What do you suggest I should use to soften the outlying soil?


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Answer from NGA
October 15, 2009
Any kind of organic matter will help loosen and improve clay soil. You can purchase bags of compost if you don't have a compost pile in your yard, or you can use aged-manure, shredded leaves, etc. Spread a 3-4 inch layer on the top of the soil and dig it in to a depth of 8-10 inches. After planting, spread an additional 2-3 inches of compost or other organic matter over the bare soil with the intention of digging it in to the soil at the end of the growing season. Then spread another 2-3 inches of organic matter over the bed. After a few years of incorporating organic matter your soil will become rich garden loam. Best wishes with your garden!

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