I would like to improve the heavy clay soil in my vegetable garden. A friend suggested that I rototill several inches of sand to improve the drainage. Is that a good way to improve clay soil?
Sometimes sand can improve clay soil. However, some kinds of sand which also contain other fine particles can actually make clay soil worse. The best way to improve all types of soil is to add organic matter.
Why does organic matter improve soil more than sand, topsoil or any other amendment? If you have a heavy soil which is hard to work, the organic matter makes air pores so water can flow easily into and through the soil. As microorganisms and worms use the organic matter for food, they produce sticky, gluelike compounds which aggregate clay particles into larger particles up to pea size, which then act like larger particles. If you have sandy soil, organic matter has the ability to hold water and slow down its movement through the soil. Organic matter also holds onto nutrients so they can be absorbed by plant roots before they leach below the root zone.
Lawn clippings and leaves are two organic materials which are free. Some of my lawn clippings go into my compost pile where they will become fine compost to use as mulch around flowers and shrubs. I also use lawn clippings as mulch between rows in the vegetable garden. I add several layers through the summer.
