Breaking up clay

[Doc_Bob]

I have some "fill" that is clay. Stuff is like concrete and no tiller will penetrate it. Tillers just skip along the top of the clay. I want to start tilling in organic matter. What can I use to break up this hard, smooth clay into rough clay to allow a tiller to then work in organic matter? Subsoiler? Plow? I sort of feel I need to break the surface of this clay in order to get started so the tiller can get a "bite" and start pulverizing the clay and mix in the organic matter. So I need help !
Bob

 

[Mace]

I have very hard lake bottom clay here in Utah. I found that the scarifier teeth on my box blade tear up just enough of the surface that my walk behind tiller can get a bite and dig deeper.

 

[KYErik]

I would think that a disk ought to do the trick. You may even be able to put a small amout of organic matter on top before you begin disking- the disk should mix it in a bit.

 

[PineRidge]

Bob when we were constructing our pond we needed clay to line the bowl and the material was pulled from a part of our property where our garden now resides.

We started loosening the clay with a subsoiler, followed with a tiller. And for several years we have thrown anything and everything organic in the area that we could find including two years worth of 20 dump-truck loads of composted horse manure and lots of composted wood chips. It made a big difference in the soil itself and the vegetables are much better off for all the changes that we have made over the years since we have been here.

 

[JJT]

I have some "fill" that is clay. Stuff is like concrete and no tiller will penetrate it. Tillers just skip along the top of the clay. I want to start tilling in organic matter. What can I use to break up this hard, smooth clay into rough clay to allow a tiller to then work in organic matter? Subsoiler? Plow? I sort of feel I need to break the surface of this clay in order to get started so the tiller can get a "bite" and start pulverizing the clay and mix in the organic matter. So I need help !
Bob

Dried out clay is like concrete. Try to till it after you get a good soaking rain. Or break out the sprinkler. If the tractor mounted tiller wont break it up, niether will a light disk. I've also used the box scraper scarifiers to rip sod before tilling, it helps.

 

[Tom_H]

JJT is right. Moisten it, let the water soak in, but also let it dry enough that it is not muck. This will work for standard clay. On the other hand, if it was originally clay that was silica cemented into a specific hardpan known as durapan, water will not permeate it well.

 

[Paddy]

What is your trying to do? Have grass grow? A garden? Grass won't need much organic material. If it's a garden you want plow in 1 deep composted manure

More details would help

 

[Doc_Bob]

What is your trying to do? Have grass grow? A garden? Grass won't need much organic material. If it's a garden you want plow in 1 deep composted manure

More details would help

I am trying to plow wood chips into the soil. I want the clay "spongy". This is my first chance to add organic matter. I just happen to have a lot of wood chips. Then, once the wood chips are in the soil, time to add nitrogen and more organic matter.
Bob

 

[riptides]

Add gypsum to it. Keep moving it. I did this to my previous front yard, after about 5 years some grass started to thrive.

It was clay and oak trees before I started.

-Mike Z.

 

[texasjohn]

From my experience with Houston Black Clay... or "gumbo" , I'd do this:

use chizel plow/subsoiler to rip it into pieces

Plow first in one direction, then about 30 degrees off that direction, then at another angle to get maximum breakuip

throw in wood chips

let sit until next rain... assumes too large area to water in

throw on more wood chips right after rain and chizel again as above in 3 directions

throw on more wood chips, wait for next rain, repeat

You will be amazed how the rain will break up the clods... soon, given enough chips and time, you will have dust... takes patience.