If you are from a region of the country with loamy soil, or one of its variations, the clay soil in the San Francisco Bay Area can be a shocker. Drainage is slow; soil turns to sticky mud when saturated; then clumps or is brick hard when it is dry.
But, the clay soil structure also attracts nutrients and holds on to water, which is ideal during the summer dry season. With a little work and knowledge, and some new practices, you may come to appreciate clay soil properties. Some ideas worth exploring:
- Garden with raised beds or containers.
- Amend the soil to increase pore space, and improve drainage.
- Plant a cover crop or mulch to prevent soil from becoming compacted.
- Use native plants that are are adapted to clay soil.
For a good web article about working with clay soil, see Keith Baldwin's web article "Improving Clay Soils" in Fine Gardening.
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| Use containers or raised beds for plants that do not thrive in clay soil. |
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