You may wish to grow vegetables, flowers and fruits in your backyard, but you discover that the backyard soil is clay soil. Now you may get frustrated and think this is the end of gardening, right?
No, you wouldn’t be fret as there is a solution to improve the clay soil. If you use the best amendments for clay soil, you can easily improve the soil profile.
Clay soil contains many fine mineral particles and because of the lack of organic content, it gets sticky too. As a result, the soil gets compacted and can’t drain well. In that case, you can add organic matter such as compost, manure, humus, and so on.
If you are in a rush and looking for a perfect pack of soil amendments then you can check out the list below, which we have confirmed after proper testing.
Let’s get started!
Best Amendments for Clay Soil Reviews
In this review section, we have reviewed the top-notch amendments for clay soil. Indeed, it will let you know the way of clay soil treatment and make your buying decision easy. Let’s get started!
1. Jobe’s 6 lb Organic Lime Soil Amendments
As you are searching for an organic soil amendment for clay soil, some manufacturers offer such organic content through bagged soil amendments. Jobe’s is a kind of soil amendment that ensures everything for improving clay soil.
The pack is formulated out of lime substance. And it is collected from all natural sources. Thus, it is good for improving clay soil or soil which has a pH level below 5.5.
Clay soil has come with a lower pH level. That’s why Jobe’s ensures the maximum alkalinity in the soil.
After amending the soil with this pack, you will notice it will automatically adjust the pH level between 6 to 7.
Most Liking Features
These soil amendments will not only improve the soil structure but also it can ensure better production. So, you will find a healthy garden with an abundance of harvest.
Probable Drawbacks
If you don’t reapply the pack 2-3 times a year, you won’t get the exact result out of the pack.
Key Features
- Made of lime substance
- Ensured all organic matters
- Improve low pH soil
- Enhance the garden production
2. The Andersons HumiChar Organic Soil Amendment with Humic Acid and Biochar
Are you looking for the best soil amendments for georgia clay that also serve a multipurpose benefit? If so, then stop searching around. The Andersons brought a soil amendment that will surely impress you.
First see its formulation of the pack. Basically this is a versatile pack. 50% of the pack contains humichar which is based on high quality humic acid. And the rest 50% is granulated biochar.
As a result, the biochar will improve the soil structure and the humic acid provides essential nutrients to the soil.
So, you will notice a healthy growth in the garden after using this soil conditioner.
The pack comes in granules, and the manufacturer has used DG (Dispersible Granule)Technology. That’s why it efficiently breaks down the soil and provides better aeration.
Most Liking Features
There are a lot of things to like about the pack. However, we most like that it contains all organic matter, thus, it reduces the use of fertilizers. So, if you use them in the early season you don’t need fertilizer and reward with huge crops.
Probable Drawbacks
You will not see the result as quickly as other soil amendments. It takes a little bit longer to perform.
Key Features
- Contains humic acid and biochar
- Made out of organic ingredients
- Improve soil health and plant growth
- Use DG tech that ensure efficient break down
3. Espoma 6.75-Pound Garden Lime Amendments
Are you tired enough after looking for the best amendments for clay soil? If so, then Espoma soil amendment will relax you and provide optimum performance. Let’s check it out.
The main ingredients of the pack are limestones. Interestingly, the manufacturer has used dolomitic limestone that is a combination of magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate. Thus, it will neutralize acid in the soil and magnesium and calcium substances work for plant uptake.
Using these lime soil amendments is very easy for all. As it comes in pellets so it can easily be spread. After using these pellets, it reacts in the soil very quickly and it is quite safe to use on garden and potting soil. You may also be interested in some of the manure for vegetable garden from our list.
Most Liking Features
The main advantage of using the pack is, it neutralizes the soil pH level. For instance, if the soil pH level is below 5.5, then it increases the pH level upto 7.
Probable Drawbacks
The contained oxides of the pack cause killing of worms if you use it on the worm casting,
Key Features
- Comes in a fine pellets
- Contains dolomitic limestones
- It reacts quickly in the soil
- Neutralized the soil pH level
4. Gantessa 3/8″ Screened Gardening Pumice Amendments
If you prefer the pumice amendments to improve clay soil, then there is a better pack of pumice amendment for you. In fact, it will never let you down by its performance in the soil. Let’s explore it.
Besides using the pack on clay soil, you can use it for other purposes. For example, you can use these pumice to raise a bed or some potted plants. So, it would be worth it for multipurpose use.
The dimension of these pumice is 3/8″ and these are lightweight.
It provides a better water holding and releasing capacity. Thus, you can use the soil for amending other soil along with clay soil.
Moreover, the quality of these pumice is such that it provides a good drainage system. Besides that, it also provides better aeration to the soil. So, you will have other soil benefits beside amending the clay soil. For more amazing products like this, check out our guide to the compost for flower beds.
Most Liking Features
Besides amending the soil, we see that it is a good plant food for cactus and other succulent plants. That means you can use the same pack for various purposes that also minimize your costing.
Probable Drawbacks
It is a very lightweight pumice soil conditioner and the dimension is smaller than regular pumice. You shouldn’t pick it for heavy use.
Key Features
- Size of the granules are 3/8″
- Provides well drainage system
- Ensure better aeration as well
- Can be used for succulent plants
5. Nature’s Footprint 3-Gallon Pumice Amendments
Last but not the least soil amendment collection is from Nature’s Footprint. In fact, this is a reasonable pack with all organic matters.
Nature’s Footprint bought this pack full of pumice amendments. Indeed, these pumice is collected from volcanic eruptions. As a result, it can be considered 100% organic pumice.
The pack comes with small granules. So, it can easily blend with the clay soil. You should use these pumice in the clay soil according to the quality. A perfect mixing can give you better results.
After using the pumice in the soil, it can break down the soil that can ensure the better drainage system. Besides, it also provides good soil aeration as well.
The good side of this pumice is its long lasting performance. If you use the pack once in the garden it will keep the soil out of compaction. That means the soil never shrinks.
Most Liking Features
After amending the soil with this pumice, you will notice it works as an insect repellent. Indeed, it also repels fungi, nematodes and various insects.
Probable Drawbacks
The granules are not all in perfect dimension, so, it wouldn’t be perfect for top dressing of the soil.
Key Features
- Collected from volcanic pumice
- Neutral soil pH level
- Prevent soil compaction
- Provides better drainage and aeration
Things to Consider Before Buying Amendments for Clay Soil
When you want to improve clay soil by using soil amendments, you must consider some factors of the bagged soil amendments. Othwesies, you can’t successfully amend the clay soil and that would be a worthless effort if you come with the wrong product.
Don’t be fret! We have put together such crucial factors of soil amendments so as to make your buying easy and ensure you pick the best soil amendments for clay soil.
Organic Matters
As you are choosing a bagged amendments for clay soil, that doesn’t mean that it contains full of natural ingredients. The more organic matter a bagged soil amendment has the better it would be.
If the pack is full of natural ingredients then it easily improves the soil profile. As a result, it will reduce the use of fertilizer. Plus, you will have a healthy soil for long time use.
So, the organic matter of the pack is very important and you don’t discount the fact.
Balance pH Level
When amending the clay soil, you have to be concerned about the pH level of the soil. Though most of the soil conditioners alter the pH level after amending the soil. So, first decide that what pH level you required after amending the soil. And, add the soil amendment according to your requirement so that you can have the exact pH level after amending the soil.
Granules Size
When you choose a bag that contains granules such as pumice, limestones, then you must be careful about the size of the granules. Because the large particles are not suitable for improving the clay soil. So, if the granules are in moderate size then you can easily amend the clay soil.
However, you also avoid the smaller granules or the pack where every granule gets powdered.
Safety Check
Though most of the pack is contained organic matters, that necessary not mean that it got the safety certification. A pack only got the certification when it contained a maximum amount of organic matter.
Besides, the authority also ensures that the pack contains any harmful substances for environments and living organisms.
Now you may be wondering how to get confirmed safety issues of the pack. It is an easy process. See whether the pack got OMRI certification or not.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
1. How to amend clay soil for vegetable gardening?
Due to the enhancement of mineral particles in the soil, it gets clay. So, an easy way is to add some organic matter to the soil such as compost, mulch, pine barks, composted leaves, gypsum, and pumics.
2. How to break down clay soil fast?
You can use some organic matter like composted leaves, manures or the materials that composted quickly in the soil. Adding some mulch, pine barks, pumice or limestones will help to improve the soil.
3. How To Amend Clay Soil Without Tilling?
4. How can I find the best soil amendments for clay?
You must consider some facts before buying such as the organic matter of the pack, types of materials, safety issues, and finally, see the quantity and price of the pack.
5. How long does clay soil take to break down?
Clay soil is so sticky and becomes compacted. If you take the traditional way to amend the soil with gypsum, that will sprinkle over the large clay area. In this way, it takes a couple of months to improve the soil.
6. What is the pH level of the clay soil?
Generally, the pH level of the clay soil is between 5 to 5.5. However, it is never above pH level 6 in the clay soil.
Final Words
It doesn’t matter what type of soil you are going to amend, the soil profile will improve quickly if you use the exact organic matter to the soil. And this is also true for clay soil.
Therefore, to get better soil health and improve it quickly, you must choose the best amendments for clay soil. We hope that you will find the perfect soil amendments to improve the clay soil.
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- How Does Climate Affect Soil Formation?
- How Can Time Affect Soils?
- How Does Soil Help Plants?
- How Many Cubic Feet in A Bag of Soil?
David, the founder of The Garden Fixer, started with a passion for gardening in 2012. He has continued his passion for gardening and desire to improve his skills and wanted to share his journey and helpful knowledge with other like-minded individuals.
He launched The Garden Fixer as an outlet for those interested in learning more about Gardening in hopes they can take what they learn and apply it for themselves!
