How to amend garden soil that's mostly clay?

[StupidBird]

It's not impossible to fix, take heart! Georgia orange clay subsoil left by the developer here. Among the many sources of mulch and organic adds for every year is hay by the huge roll, and wood chips dumped by the state DOT (there's usually a number to call online, then you get transferred a bit, then get on a waiting list, then you call every few weeks, but it's free). It took several years of this to see a big difference.

Also never work wet clay soils!

Wide row beds that are never walked on.

Soil tests! My ph was 4.8! Waaaaay too acid.

 

[jerryse]

Try garden gypsum it is available at garden stores. May or may not be at some of the big box stores. Use like lime . It breaks the chemical bond on clay allowing it to crumble. I have yellow clay and use it once a year in the spring. There used to be a brick yard in this area. They mined the clay for bricks. Mulch and other things mentioned are a big help also.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Look into expanded shale too.