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From: ems@amdahl.UUCP (ems)
Newsgroups: net.garden
Subject: Re: square foot gardening
Message-ID: <2590@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 17-Jan-86 12:53:12 EST
Article-I.D.: amdahl.2590
Posted: Fri Jan 17 12:53:12 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 19-Jan-86 04:29:20 EST
References: <6787@duke.UUCP>
Organization: Circle C Shellfish Ranch, Shores-of-the-Pacific, Ca
Lines: 21
Summary: Use sand and compost to thin clay soil.

In article <6787@duke.UUCP>, jbd@duke.UUCP writes:
> (...)               One question that I have concerns soil.
> We have very heavy clay soil, so I am considering
> setting up raised beds, and using a soil mix (I haven't
> investigated prices yet).

I live where the soil is clay.  I've spent the last few years
making my garden into something worth working in.  What have
I found to work best?  Use about 10-20% of the clay soil.  Mix
with about 40-50% sand and the remainder (40%) compost.
(I use the commercial bagged stuff.)

This is an estimate only.  Your milage may differ.  I mostly just
kept dumping bags of sand on and working it in.  I started using
organic mulches only, but they 'go away' after a year or so.  The
sand is important.  Try mixing a bucket or two from your own soil
first, just to see what mix you need.
-- 
E. Michael Smith  ...!{hplabs,ihnp4,amd,nsc}!amdahl!ems

This is the obligatory disclaimer of everything.