Any good results with Gypsum?

[Black Orchid]

Clay is good, if you can build it up well enough, as it holds nutrients and water better than most other soils.

If it is hard and compacted you will need to have it rotary hoed. I would prefer to build it up with copious amounts of organic matter rather than use gypsum.

Oh and lots and lots of worms.

So my father may have been right to just get rid of the clay for his garden bed?

You don't need to get rid of it you just need to build it up. If you are just growing vegies etc (shallow rooted things) sure replace it if you want but if you are growing trees, shrubs etc you need to leave the clay in tact and build it up with COPIOUS amounts of organic matter attracting worms.

Anything that does NOT have a shallow root system will eventually hit the clay if you have dug it all out. And it will act like a bucket/basin and when it rains all the water will collect on top of the clay underneath the imported soil and when the roots hit the full on clay (after growing freely in imported soil) the roots, when they hit the clay, will have nowhere to go and the trees will be stunted. Plus if it rains and the water is like an underground lake between the clay and the imported soil the root systems of trees etc can just rot.

[Bobby]

Clay is good, if you can build it up well enough, as it holds nutrients and water better than most other soils.

If it is hard and compacted you will need to have it rotary hoed. I would prefer to build it up with copious amounts of organic matter rather than use gypsum.

Oh and lots and lots of worms.

So my father may have been right to just get rid of the clay for his garden bed?

You don't need to get rid of it you just need to build it up. If you are just growing vegies etc (shallow rooted things) sure replace it if you want but if you are growing trees, shrubs etc you need to leave the clay in tact and build it up with COPIOUS amounts of organic matter attracting worms.

Anything that does NOT have a shallow root system will eventually hit the clay if you have dug it all out. And it will act like a bucket/basin and when it rains all the water will collect on top of the clay underneath the imported soil and when the roots hit the full on clay (after growing freely in imported soil) the roots, when they hit the clay, will have nowhere to go and the trees will be stunted. Plus if it rains and the water is like an underground lake between the clay and the imported soil the root systems of trees etc can just rot.

You're right,
if it rains a lot a dug out area will act like a bath tub & the roots will
rot due to a lack of drainage.
That's why people have raised garden beds so the water can drain off somewhere.
It sounds like Gypsum would still be a good idea to just create nice lawn like a golf course
but a raised garden bed with wooden sides would be best for veges.
My father's garden bed did turn into a mucky mess when it rained heavily in winter.
It was however great in summer.
Depending on the time of year he grew: corn, beans, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, cabbages, cauilfowers,
spinach & we even had a very health lemon tree in one corner.

[Black Orchid]

Gypsum for the lawn areas would be beneficial. Not too much work and nice lush lawns.

[Bobby]

Gypsum for the lawn areas would be beneficial. Not too much work and nice lush lawns.

Yes - we've worked it out.
I like nice lawns that look like a golf course &
I can have a raised garden bed.

[Black Orchid]

Sounds like you have it covered and I am sure it will look awesome. I like nice lush lawns too

[sprintcyclist]

I must add that when I was a kid my father got the professionals in to make a garden bed.
It was about 10 meters long by 3 to 4 meters wide.
It was solid hard clay.
I got them to use a front end loader to remove at least 1 foot deep of clay
in the whole area & take it away in a truck.
He then got a whole truckload of rich soil to replace it & used a rotary hoe
to mix in a couple of trailer loads of chicken manure.
That was always a good garden & he added chicken manure every 3 or 4 years.
He never used Gypsum - he said it was a waste of time for a good garden -
'the only way was to remove & replace the clay.

Any thoughts?

I agree your Dad.
Proof of the pudding was in that.............. ' it was always a good garden ..........'

We pH tested the soil here, put a LOT of 'organic Xtra' fertiliser on it, rotary hoed it so the 'organic extra' was dug in to about 1 foot.
pH tested it again.
Put on lots of coarse cypress pine chip where the trees will grow, lots of sugar cane mulch where the path is.

It has been 'always a good garden'

Do the preparation and you will always have a good garden.

[sprintcyclist]

If you spend $1500 and do not have 'a garden that is always good', it'll be $1500 wasted and an enduring disappointment for you.
If you spend $3000 and have the garden of your dreams, you will love it.

I do.

[Bobby]

I must add that when I was a kid my father got the professionals in to make a garden bed.
It was about 10 meters long by 3 to 4 meters wide.
It was solid hard clay.
I got them to use a front end loader to remove at least 1 foot deep of clay
in the whole area & take it away in a truck.
He then got a whole truckload of rich soil to replace it & used a rotary hoe
to mix in a couple of trailer loads of chicken manure.
That was always a good garden & he added chicken manure every 3 or 4 years.
He never used Gypsum - he said it was a waste of time for a good garden -
'the only way was to remove & replace the clay.

Any thoughts?

I agree your Dad.
Proof of the pudding was in that.............. ' it was always a good garden ..........'

We pH tested the soil here, put a LOT of 'organic Xtra' fertiliser on it, rotary hoed it so the 'organic extra' was dug in to about 1 foot.
pH tested it again.
Put on lots of coarse cypress pine chip where the trees will grow, lots of sugar cane mulch where the path is.

It has been 'always a good garden'

Do the preparation and you will always have a good garden.

If you spend $1500 and do not have 'a garden that is always good', it'll be $1500 wasted and an enduring disappointment for you.
If you spend $3000 and have the garden of your dreams, you will love it.

I do.

Thanks Sprint.
I've picked up some good tips.

cheers
Bobby

[mellie]

Ballarat is nicer.