Clay soil is a type of soil that can cause stickiness when wet and becomes hard as rock when exposed to a lot of heat. Often found in gardens, clay soil is defined by soil that consists of more than 50% of clay particles.
The great thing about clay soil is that it is extremely fertile that makes it ideal for those who want a thriving garden. If you haven’t come across clay soil before and are unsure how to treat it and take care of it then it is important to know whether it is acid or alkaline.
The pH of the clay soil will determine what kind of plants will grow in the garden and how to take care of them. In this guide, we’ll be taking you through everything you need to know about clay soil.
Is clay soil acidic or alkaline?
The first thing you need to understand is how the soil pH is determined and what can affect their levels. The main factors that matter when determining the soil pH are the mineral composition and organic material of the genetic soil makeup.
This means that the pH of clay soil can differ depending on the geographic location as a variety of external factors such as water or fertilizer can also be a contributor to the pH level.
When it comes to clay soil specifically, they tend to be on the alkaline side of the scale which contrasts greatly to other types of soil such as sandy soil which is more acidic.
Clay soil often has a high alkaline content meaning that it is ideal for certain plants such as asters, hostas or switchgrass but it also means that a lot of plants are not suitable to grow in the soil so you will have to lower the pH count to accommodate other options.
Can you amend the clay soil pH?
If you have discovered that your clay soil has a high alkaline content then you may want to consider amending the clay soil in order to grow a variety of different plants.
Luckily, there are ways to amend the clay soil pH to do so. Ideally, your clay soil is at its optimum quality when it isn’t tampered and if you can find alkaline plants that will thrive.
However, if you want to lower the alkaline soil count or shift the pH into acidic territory, follow these steps and you’ll be growing loads of plants in no time.
Test the pH
Before you even plan to amend the pH level, it’s important to test the pH level of the soil so you know how much alkaline content is in the soil.
If you have a low alkaline level then you don’t need to add too many acidic compounds to the soil as this may make the soil too acidic which brings other limits.
The best route to take is to seek the services of a professional who can carry out the most accurate pH test so you will know the exact number.
If you don’t want to spend too much money doing this then you can purchase a pH strip or pH meter which will give you a general idea of what the clay soil level is. Professionals will be able to give you further advice and data on your soil so you can use the correct amount of acidic compounds.
Amend the pH
Now that you know the pH level of your soil, this is the part of the process where you need to amend the levels properly. Before you apply any compounds to the soil, complete a water pH test so you can make sure that the alkaline levels aren’t going to be raised when the compound is added.
Make sure that when you go to apply the compound that the soil is dry as wet soil can cause compaction. The results of your test will be the starting point for how much you need to add. So what do you need to add to the soil?
Organic matter is the best choice as it will lower the pH level as well as ensuring that the soil is broken up to provide your plants with the appropriate nutrients.
For clay soil that is extremely high in its alkaline content, using compounds such as cottonseed meal, iron sulfate or sulfur is the best option as they are effective in acidifying the soil. What is great about these compounds is that they get to work a lot faster than organic matter.
Maintain the pH
Once you have amended the pH level, it’s important to ensure that you are able to maintain the level. Before planting any seeds into the clay soil, make sure that you have left the soil for a few months in order to allow the compounds to get to work.
Test the pH level before you plant anything to see if it has made any difference. Hopefully, you will see that the pH level lies between 6.3 and 6.8 on the pH scale meaning that you will have a wider range of plants that you can grow. To maintain the clay soil, use compost or manure which will help it to stay at its level.
Conclusion
Overall, clay soil is usually located on the alkaline side of the pH scale which is suitable for certain plants to thrive. However, if you want to grow a wider range of plants in your garden, then lowering the pH level means that you will be granted versatility.
