How to Add Clay to Soil

Sandy soil drains well but does not retain nutrients. Clay soil is usually the opposite, holding nutrients but offering terrible drainage. The ideal soil contains a mixture of these two soil types, along with nutrient-rich soil and composts. Add clay soil to sandy soil to improve the soil's ability to retain nutrients. Only a little clay is necessary, and it should be mixed with other helpful ingredients to create the ideal soil mixture.

Natural clay (purchased from a nursery or exchanged with another gardener)
Trowel
Shovel
Tiller
Organic compost (a mixture of leaves, grass clippings, manure and compost)
Humus
Black soil
Wheelbarrow
Rake
10-10-10 fertilizer
Work gloves

Instructions

- 1
  Break the clay into small pieces with a shovel, trowel or even the tiller. The pieces should wind up smaller than the size of pea gravel. Clay left in large chunks will not improve the soil.
- 2
  Till the soil to a depth of about 24 inches. Most plants do not grow further into the soil than this. If you want to grow trees in this location, however, then till at least 3 feet deep.
- 3
  Remove about 1/3 of the sandy soil with a shovel. Haul off the sand with a wheelbarrow.
- 4
  Create a mixture of equal parts clay, organic compost (any mixture is fine), humus and black soil. You can use potting soil or move soil from a nutrient-rich bed to the sandy bed. This mixture should equal the amount of soil removed from the bed.
- 5
  Spread the clay mixture over the bed with a shovel and rake. Till the two soil types together until they start to blend seamlessly as one soil type.
- 6
  Add a general fertilizer over the soil. Use a slow-release fertilizer that releases nutrients over a period of several months. Water the soil to settle the dirt and complete the mixing process.

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