Asked on Feb 19, 2015
Soil preparation in Oklahoma
+7
I live in Oklahoma and our garden area is made up of Oklahoma Red Dirt. It is all clay! I don't know what to till into the dirt so it will grow something. Any suggestions?
8 answers
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It really doesn't matter what your soil type is if you do a lasagna type garden. Our ground was so rocky I either had to haul in a bunch of new dirt (which was very expensive) or doing something else. I would highly recommend purchasing the book, Lasagna Gardening by Patricia Lanza. Great book. You basically use start with layers of newspaper or cardboard, then couple inches of peat moss, then organic mulch, then keep layering up. The books gives all the details and is really great. No more digging or tilling. I love it!
Kim
on Feb 19, 2015
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You want to add as much organic matter as you. Check out this comprehensive guide to soils from Oklahoma State: http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5685/E-1003.pdf
Douglas Hunt
on Feb 19, 2015
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Spread deep straw on it for this summer season and allow that to rot into good soil for next year. In the meantime, put whole bales of straw where they will get 8 hours of sun daily, and google straw bale gardening for the info on how to prepare them for planting. It is an easy way to grow a very lush garden while your soil is being rejuvenated by deep loose straw.
Cathy Spiller
on Feb 19, 2015
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Raised beds.
Debbie Harris
on Feb 20, 2015
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a raised garden, 2x10 or 2x12 treated lumber or rail road ties frame fill that with appropriate soil. If this is a viable option you might want to consider some type of screen on the bottom before adding soil as a gopher shield.
Bob
on Feb 20, 2015
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All great suggestions. Just keep adding organic material, that's the key.
1240839
on Feb 20, 2015
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@offshoreland1 Raised beds are a great idea, but a word of caution: railroad ties and treated lumber should be covered with 3 or 4 ml plastic on the inside so the treating chemicals don't get into the soil your veggies are growing in. You can use untreated lumber without having to do that.
Cathy Spiller
on Feb 21, 2015
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You can get your nutrients and mineral content totally out of whack with an over abundance of carbon materials. All carbon is broken down but nitrogen, and moisture. So the process of breaking down carbons depletes nitrogen. In Billings Oklahoma area, all you need is enough to soften the clay. Look at their wheat crops and ask yourself if red clay is all that bad. Have someone till deeply for you and turn in your carbons on a yearly basis. Then fine tune. Over abundance of carbon can cause you more distress than if you hadn't used it. Use all other carbons as mulch, and much later as materials to add to soil.
Myrna Engle
on Feb 22, 2015
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