When moving to a new home, or when deciding to tackle your yard or backyard for the first time, it is important to note certain aspects of the garden, such as which areas get most daylight. This is one of the reasons why professional gardeners advise studying a garden for 12 months before designing anything new. One area where you can get to work immediately is improving your ground and this is especially important when dealing with problematic situations such as when you have clay soil.

Clay soil can make a gardeners life a misery as the ground is heavy and easily becomes waterlogged. Sadly there are no real quick solutions to the problem of too much clay but, on a brighter note, by hard work you will end up with seriously fertile, good quality, loam by following a few simple steps.

If you have moved into a newly built house it is important to remember that the soil in the area will be somewhat compacted and it will need double digging immediately. Make sure you do not disturb the subsoil but dig as deep as you can removing any rubble, bricks and other debris. As you work your way across your plot dig in as much organic matter as possible.

Adding organic matter will improve the drainage and add air but it also helps create the correct environment for most garden plants and clay soil is, potentially, highly fertile. While many trees and shrubs will grow well in a heavy soil they too will benefit by the addition of humus and compost. When it comes to annuals and herbaceous plants clay can cause problems (plus you will need to dig up and divide some perennials).

When you dig clay soil for the first time I strongly advise that you add a great deal of compost and other organic matter, about eight inches across the whole surface would be perfect. However you should not over dig the soil as this can compound the problem, especially if the ground is wet.

After your first double dig and in following years you should continue to add organic matter to the ground but there will be no need for any double digging. You can place the organic matter across the surface of the soil and, by the work of worms and weather, it will eventually mix in nicely.

In certain areas of the United States there are unique aspects of clay which necessitate the addition of certain chemicals or maybe a some other substances. I may address some of these problems in a later article.

Everywhere you turn nowadays, you see organic products being promoted. The grocery store is filled with organic items usually with a much higher price tag attached. Organic is marketed as being more environmentally safe. So naturally when planting a garden you want it to be more environmentally safe but there are also several traditional and commercial compounds that are safe and effective when used properly.

Manure provides is an excellent organic fertilizer. It provides a nitrogen rich additive to soil, which helps many vegetables grow. However, the odor can be very unpleasant not to mention that animal waste can carry diseases. Bird droppings and animal waste can contain viruses and parasites that are harmful to both humans and other animals. So be careful when using manure to fertilize your garden.

Another excellent organic additive to liven up the soil is compost. Compost can be made from leftover food, straw, grass and leaves. However, be aware that these compost piles also attract insects that feed off of decaying matter and some wildlife that might enjoy the leftover food scraps.

Another popular method used among organic gardeners is the biological control of insects. Insects and pests are kept under control by introducing predators that eat the harmful insects but not the vegetables. This tactic reduces the need for artificial chemicals. However finding out which critters work best to eat the bugs and leave the tomatoes alone can take some time and research on your part.

Another form of biological control is to plant trap crops to lure insects away from the vegetables to sacrificial’ plants. This type of biological control also reduces the need for artificial chemicals. But you have to make sure you have enough space in your garden for such plants. Not to mention that these plants will also take up your time, water, and fertilizer that could be used to grow more vegetables.

The argument can be made that chemical compounds used in many insecticides are somewhat natural in nature since they are obtained from natural sources. All chemicals produced artificially for gardening are derived from compounds found in the natural environment.

For example, pyrethrum is the base of one of the most popular insecticides used. It is used in wasp and other insect sprays. However, it is made from the blossoms of the pyrethrum flower. Nicotine is another natural organic chemical that is used in insecticides. However it is very ineffective in its use and toxic to humans, dogs and wild animals. Therefore it should be handled with the utmost care.

Natural, organic mulch is also a great soil protector. Leaves, wood chips, and other natural materials help retain moisture and ward off insect and weed invasions. The use of black plastic is also a good “artificial” mulch. It helps control weeds and won’t harm the environment because it doesn’t decay or give off toxins. It can even help with pest control by enhancing solar irradiation.

Natural, organic mulch is a very helpful soil protector. Leaves, wood chips and other materials from the environment can help retain moisture, or stave off insect and weed invasions. But using black plastic is another very popular (in this case, artificial) mulch. It is great for weed control. It doesn’t harm the local environment because it doesn’t decay or give off toxic fumes. It can even help with pest control by enhancing solar irradiation.