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maine USA

Do you ever feel like you just can't win sometimes? Part of my patch had a bed of clay under beginning 4-6 inches deep. I believe that the clay is one of the main reason that my K+ was chronically very high. To combat this I worked very hard off and on for 3 to 4 days digging down around 12-16" to remove a lot of clay. The area that I worked on was 30-40 sq. ft. {I do have drainage trenches in place so I did not make a large bowl}. I then replaced the removed clay with compost and loam. My back ached for days since the clay was very heavy.
I took a soil test of the area once I was finished, and the lab said that my K+ was on the very low end of normal, and that I should add a few lbs!
I suppose it is better to be able to add K+ then to have too much but I did say a couple of, shall we say naughty words. Lol Kathy

10/24/2007 6:58:36 PM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

how about throwing some of your clay back in, not sure you want to grow on 100% OM

10/24/2007 7:04:11 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

You can plant a cover crop of alfalfa. It sucks up alot of K when it grows. Then harvest and remove, potassium will go with it.

10/24/2007 8:10:12 PM

If I read this right you added some of removed topsoil(loam) and compost.. try finding some horse manure and possibly the much talked about maple leaves and add yet this fall(both will boost the K). Retest in spring and see how you did.
Look at it as more back exercise,,"no pain no gain" ;-)

10/24/2007 9:37:31 PM

Minnesota

I did the same thing this past weekend, dug a pit. Some people right away said you dug a bowl & add dirt to the garden area to raise it instead of digging the clay out. Other people have said that they have had there personel best using the pit/hole method. I have room for two plants, one is going to have a hole/pit the other raised from alot of added soil/compost/manure.

10/24/2007 9:38:28 PM

Sheridan . NY

suggestion ---clay is a good thing--no matter how deep it is--i wish i had some im on sand and pee gravel--OM is the answer -- a foot at least---with a ph of 6.3 to 6.6 --if your soup is to saltie you add water to cut the salt --you are makeiing a cake mix- not to sweet not to much flour--

10/25/2007 7:33:14 AM

maine USA

I saved the top soil, dug out a lot of heavy gray clay. It was the consistancy of modeling clay.
I mixed the topsoil with maybe 3" of compost and a lot of hauled in loam. The loam does have some clay mixed in with. Along all the K+ that I believe that the clay was holding on to. I felt that I had a danger of creating hardpan. Removing this clay down to around 14-16" also allowed me to remove some very good sized rocks.
Since my soil test I have added maple leaves, Kelp meal and etc. Kathy

10/25/2007 9:18:33 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Guess I didnt finish reading...sorry. LOL.

10/25/2007 9:29:12 AM

I think you did well,,let it sit for the winter and test in the early spring,,,

10/25/2007 10:57:34 AM

maine USA

thanks guys

10/26/2007 1:49:14 PM