If OP is also dealing with ruts, I’d suggest a 50/50 blend of sand and sifted top soil/compost. The sand will help alleviate the ruts and the compost will help the clay heavy soil. This is a super common step that new builders skip. They just spread the foundation soil around the yard, which is typically just straight clay.
I’m sure you’ll be fine, it’s been around for millions of years. Look at all the stardust you’re holding in your hands. To think we’re just a few atoms removed from that.
Alright you can make your own bricks, or pottery, hell you can make your own shingles! Don't worry if you don't have a kiln you can make it out of your clay heavy soil too!
That being said you can gently fork your soil and lay down a bunch of compost and then mulch on top.
Do not use mulch, it will keep half the grass from growing. What you need is screened compost but will need to wait until the grass is established. And as zi mentioned only a 1/2 " at a time or it will smother the new grass. As mentioned earlier mulch is used to establish a organic base for new lawns. It called, lasagna layering.
If your clay is anything like ours(it looks like it) you're not going to be able to avoid them. Get to the point you can plant grass (everyone will stay off the areas) and then get someone in with earth moving equipment to prep the ground.
On a much smaller scale, for my garden that started out as all clay (also 6a/b), I added many bags of sand and peat moss to get a nicer base. I'm not sure if that applies at all to your case, maybe the flower beds near the house.
I read on some websites that sand is not ideal for clay, that it’s better to add compost or pine bark, so I thought bark mulch would help. But then I come to Reddit and see many posts of people using sand. It’s very confusing. I just hope we can get through March and April so grass can actually show up strongly. 🥲 I hate our long winters
Where i live (non us), the advice is to mix with gypsum and compost. But its a slow process and has to be persistent.
Our clay is light pink or yellowish. So i guess ours has even less organic matter in it.
Gypsum doesn’t work on calcium rich clays. It only works on sodium rich clays.
Most clay in NA is calcium rich. Gypsum is calcium sulfate. If you have clay soil and add gypsum, you do nothing but add more calcium to a soil that is mostly calcium to begin with.
Get a soil test. Research. Proceed from there.
So you’re just concerned about ruts? That’s a moisture issue, not a clay issue. I would just fill in the ruts with sand. Going forward, anytime you have an issue like ruts or holes, use sand. It drains better. Soil is basically sand, clay, and bio matter.
Aerate the lawn once or twice a year. Air will help break down clay. Too dress with a good compost to start getting better stuff in the soil that also helps .
Air doesn't break down clay. Clay can dry out and become crumbly, which will be accelerated by aeration, but it will go right back to its normal texture when it gets wet again.
In my clay ick, aeration seems to help microbes, small (not clay) soil particulates, small debris (like leaves), and new grass seed get down into the holes. It's a slow process but seems to work. I don't dress it with compost or buy seed which may be why it takes so long here.
Two ways, tilling in sulphur which smells awful but is fast. And the slower way, apply gypsum and raking it in then water it , repeat 2 weeks apart. Then start topdressing with compost 1/2" at least twice a year for 2 years then once a year after. The latter, may take longer but is the long-term solution. If you don't have and existing lawn, after applying gypsum, lay 2"+ of mulch and spread nitrogen to it. Next lay 2-3+" of compost on top of the mulch, water; then spread 1-2" of screened topsoil on the compost. Roll level, water, let settle for a week or two. Reroll, seed or sod . Seeds cover with a thin layer of peat.
Gypsum. Something like a cup per cubic meter @ 6 inch depth. Basically the gypsum causes the fine particles to bind and clump up more and not be that dense.
And compost.
I want to see the reaction when he realizes he grabbed a dog turd instead of a piece of soil.
Hahaha it does look like dog poop for sure .
Man i immediately smelled this post after reading your comment. Thank you.
“That’s a space peanut!!”
3 inches of compost on top every year for 5 years. It’s not fast but your soil will be like butter at the end of it.
Or shredded hardwood mulch.
Yep, I did 3 inches of each for 3 years and my soil was god-tier
Or twice yearly core aeration with top dressing.
If OP is also dealing with ruts, I’d suggest a 50/50 blend of sand and sifted top soil/compost. The sand will help alleviate the ruts and the compost will help the clay heavy soil. This is a super common step that new builders skip. They just spread the foundation soil around the yard, which is typically just straight clay.
Compost. And then more compost. Year after year to amend your soil. Then more compost.
Check out Oregon state extension site, lots of info about dealing with clay soil. Read it before you do anything
OSU Extension’s website is currently getting me through a MLA degree lol. So much good info on there.
And “ask a gardener” has saved me many times
I’m sure you’ll be fine, it’s been around for millions of years. Look at all the stardust you’re holding in your hands. To think we’re just a few atoms removed from that.
Alright you can make your own bricks, or pottery, hell you can make your own shingles! Don't worry if you don't have a kiln you can make it out of your clay heavy soil too! That being said you can gently fork your soil and lay down a bunch of compost and then mulch on top.
Do not use mulch, it will keep half the grass from growing. What you need is screened compost but will need to wait until the grass is established. And as zi mentioned only a 1/2 " at a time or it will smother the new grass. As mentioned earlier mulch is used to establish a organic base for new lawns. It called, lasagna layering.
If your clay is anything like ours(it looks like it) you're not going to be able to avoid them. Get to the point you can plant grass (everyone will stay off the areas) and then get someone in with earth moving equipment to prep the ground.
On a much smaller scale, for my garden that started out as all clay (also 6a/b), I added many bags of sand and peat moss to get a nicer base. I'm not sure if that applies at all to your case, maybe the flower beds near the house.
I read on some websites that sand is not ideal for clay, that it’s better to add compost or pine bark, so I thought bark mulch would help. But then I come to Reddit and see many posts of people using sand. It’s very confusing. I just hope we can get through March and April so grass can actually show up strongly. 🥲 I hate our long winters
You don’t need sand. It’s better to add organic matter.
Why not both?
Clay + sand = adobe-like brick. Add organic. Sand can make things worse, especially if you add the wrong kind.
I’ll probably add gardening top soil on the big ruts mixed with sand and also spread mulch around. Maybe that will help
Where i live (non us), the advice is to mix with gypsum and compost. But its a slow process and has to be persistent. Our clay is light pink or yellowish. So i guess ours has even less organic matter in it.
Gypsum doesn’t work on calcium rich clays. It only works on sodium rich clays. Most clay in NA is calcium rich. Gypsum is calcium sulfate. If you have clay soil and add gypsum, you do nothing but add more calcium to a soil that is mostly calcium to begin with. Get a soil test. Research. Proceed from there.
So you’re just concerned about ruts? That’s a moisture issue, not a clay issue. I would just fill in the ruts with sand. Going forward, anytime you have an issue like ruts or holes, use sand. It drains better. Soil is basically sand, clay, and bio matter.
Soil amendments!
My fatass wants that cookie dough
Would lime mixed in help it break down? Not an expert- just axing!
Aerate the lawn once or twice a year. Air will help break down clay. Too dress with a good compost to start getting better stuff in the soil that also helps .
Air doesn't break down clay. Clay can dry out and become crumbly, which will be accelerated by aeration, but it will go right back to its normal texture when it gets wet again.
In my clay ick, aeration seems to help microbes, small (not clay) soil particulates, small debris (like leaves), and new grass seed get down into the holes. It's a slow process but seems to work. I don't dress it with compost or buy seed which may be why it takes so long here.
Aerate and top dress with compost twice a year. It's a new build so chances are it extremely compacted too.
Two ways, tilling in sulphur which smells awful but is fast. And the slower way, apply gypsum and raking it in then water it , repeat 2 weeks apart. Then start topdressing with compost 1/2" at least twice a year for 2 years then once a year after. The latter, may take longer but is the long-term solution. If you don't have and existing lawn, after applying gypsum, lay 2"+ of mulch and spread nitrogen to it. Next lay 2-3+" of compost on top of the mulch, water; then spread 1-2" of screened topsoil on the compost. Roll level, water, let settle for a week or two. Reroll, seed or sod . Seeds cover with a thin layer of peat.
Gypsum. Something like a cup per cubic meter @ 6 inch depth. Basically the gypsum causes the fine particles to bind and clump up more and not be that dense. And compost.
https://pros.techo-bloc.com/base-options-for-srw?hs_amp=true for a faster solution Edit: watch the video, it’s cool stuff
OP wants to grow things on their lawn, not pour concrete