Clay Soil Cover Crop Fix. From frustrating failure to the final fix.

Breaking tuff clay and compacted soil with a broad fork just didnt work. How we switched gears to get the cover crop in teh ground before it was to late. We used a combination of Tillage Radish and Black oats to break up the soil in preperation for the spring planting season in our organic backyard garden.In this clay soil cover crop fix, we'll be covering how to fix a frustratingly unsuccessful clay soil cover crop experience. From the basics of clay soil to the most common problems with cover crops on clay soil, we'll provide you with the information you need to finally succeed with clay soil cover crops.
If you're struggling to grow cover crops on clay soil, this fix is for you! We'll show you how to
Hoss tools link: shareasale.com...

[@LifewithBlindaandChuck]

I’m just getting started with cover crops so I appreciate you sharing out this information. Have a great weekend.

[@bellesbackyard3264]

You too.

[@joshuaa9513]

Fall is great for fixing clay soil. You can take all the free leaves and bury them or turn them into the soil. Just dig deep holes and fill them all the way up with leaves. Then put the soil back on top. If you do this every year the soil will change to a better soil. You have to do it when it is not frozen. You can not dig in frozen ground. It is like concrete.

[@randyketcham3840]

Solid plan. I have clay soils like that as well and what I have done is turn the soil over by hand with a shovel late fall, cover up the grass and then throw a cover crop on top of it like you used and let it go until spring, the freeze/thaw of winter breaks down everything in the soil and the cover crops are then on the top for the organic matter and the grass is turned over the for organic matter down about 6-10 inches to help as well. I can see the use of the tiller to help break it all up and then the radishes for the deeper penetration into the soil and eventual breakdown for water flow and organic matter. I am curious to see your results. Good video

[@bellesbackyard3264]

Thanks Randy. We’ll see when spring hits. I may leave half of the beds chopped and dropped. The other 2 tilled. What are your thoughts

[@randyketcham3840]

Depending upon what your longer term plans are for the new beds.......if you plan on planting later next summer, you could always chop and drop them next spring, let it all break down and then plant a spring cover crop and chop and drop that as well and then let it break down and work the beds and plant something in it like a green bean or lima bean since you can get a late summer/early fall crop of those and fix nitrogen as well. If you plan on a potential spring crop you could go with chop and drop and then work it next spring and plant a few rows of peas to either eat and/or chop and drop for more organic matter and then plant something like a sunflower. I did that because they will scavenge nutrients and concentrate them in the plants and then just cut off the heads and chop and drop the flowers and plant a late summer/early fall crop in it then. I also make my own compost with leaves, grass and kitchen scraps that I put in those type of beds as well for anything I can to help break it up. Hoss Tools also has a bag of gypsum that I buy a fair bit of and spread in winter to help break up the clay next spring and it also helps me prevent blossom end rot on my tomatoes as well. Apologize for the long answer, but I have tried anything and everything with our reclaimed strip mine clay ground
@@bellesbackyard3264