Individual clay particles are so small they are visible only under a microscope and clay soil is made up of more than 25 percent of them. Mixed with water, they can be sticky and cement-like. Where there are less than 8 percent clay particles, yet the soil is still heavy, there could be silt mixed with the clay. Silt compacts easily but is less sticky. Tiny particles mean tiny pores and a clay or silt soil is less well aerated and dries much more slowly than a sandy soil. Although sticky clay soils can drive you mad when they bake hard in summer and are too wet to work during winter, the very nature of those tiny particles means they can hold onto water and nutrients, and are great for plant growth. A wide range of plants, including roses, relish improved, fertile clay soils and if you switch, as I have, from an impoverished sand to silty clay, you will certainly see a difference in growth rates.
Tips for gardening on clay
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If you need to access heavy clay soil, or are standing on a lawn edge, use boards to spread the weight.
Improve drainage for crops like garlic by planting into ridges made above soil level. This is especially useful for winter crops and early plantings, because the roots are raised out of the coldest, soggiest part of the soil.
To dry a cold, wet, heavy soil early in the year prior to planting and sowing, cover with plastic sheeting. Alkathene piping fixed over beds in hoops will raise the plastic off the soil to keep rain off but will allow air in to dry and warm the soil.
Drying soil by covering is easier when the beds are only 4 feet or so wide and slightly raised above the surrounding level.
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