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Alright, let’s talk about this brick soil stuff. You know, the kind that’s hard as a rock and cracks like the desert in the summer? Yeah, that stuff. It’s a pain, I tell ya, a real pain in the neck.
What is this brick soil anyway?
Well, some smarty-pants folks call it clay soil, but I just call it brick soil ‘cause that’s what it feels like. They say it’s got these tiny little pieces, way smaller than sand, and that’s why it sticks together so tight. More than 25% of that tiny stuff and you got yourself a brick soil problem, they say. I don’t know about all that, but I know it’s hard to dig and nothing seems to grow good in it.
So, how do you fix this brick soil mess?
It ain’t easy, let me tell you that. But it ain’t impossible neither. You gotta be patient, and you gotta work at it. It ain’t gonna happen overnight, that’s for sure.
- First thing’s first, you gotta add some good stuff to it. You know, like the stuff you throw away from the kitchen? The peels from potatoes and apples, the coffee grounds, even the tea bags. They call it “organic matter,” but I just call it garbage that plants like. This stuff breaks down and makes the soil softer and easier to work with. I even throw in tea compost, the plants love that stuff, believe you me.
- Then, you gotta add some compost. That’s the stuff that looks like dirt but smells like, well, like dirt and old leaves mixed together. You can buy it, or you can make your own. I make my own, it’s cheaper that way. Just pile up leaves and grass clippings and let it sit for a while. It turns into this black gold, they say. I don’t know about gold, but the plants sure do like it. You see, compost helps break up that hard soil and gives the plants some food too.
- And don’t forget about mulch! That’s like a blanket for your soil. You can use wood chips, straw, or even just old leaves. It keeps the soil moist and cool in the summer and warm in the winter. And it keeps them pesky weeds from growing. And you know what? As it sits there, it breaks down and makes the soil even better. It’s like a two for one deal!
Now, some folks say you gotta do all sorts of fancy things, like adding gypsum or lime, but I never bothered with that stuff. Just adding the garbage, the compost, and the mulch, that’s always been enough for me. It takes time, mind you. You ain’t gonna turn that brick soil into a garden overnight. You gotta keep adding the good stuff, year after year. But eventually, it’ll get better. You’ll see.
And what about watering?
Well, brick soil don’t soak up water too good. It just sits on top and then runs off. So, you gotta water it slow and deep. Let the water soak in good, don’t just spray it on top. And if you can, water it in the morning, so the plants have time to dry off before night. Don’t want them catching no disease now, do we?
So, there you have it. My simple way of dealing with brick soil. It ain’t rocket science, that’s for sure. Just common sense. Add good stuff, cover it up, and water it good. And be patient. That’s the most important thing. If you keep at it, you can turn that hard, cracked soil into something beautiful. I’ve seen it happen. And if an old woman like me can do it, so can you.
Some other tricks I have heard, some people say they use sand, especially the rough one. That makes sense to me since I have seen plenty of sand in good soil. And another thing, don’t go walking on the soil when it’s wet. That makes it even more like brick. You compact it you see. Just use some stepping stones or wait till it’s dry.
And remember, gardening ain’t just about the soil. It’s about the plants too. You gotta give them sunshine and water and love. And maybe talk to them a little bit. I always talk to my plants. They listen, you know. They listen. Alright, I’ve talked enough. Now go get your hands dirty!
Tags: [brick soil, clay soil, soil improvement, compost, mulch, organic matter, gardening, garden tips, soil amendments, hard soil]