Replacing clay soil

[Meadowlark]

Not in my garden...clay is preferable to the fiberglass mats contained in most drywall.

Gypsum yes, drywall no.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Not in my garden...clay is preferable to the fiberglass mats contained in most drywall.

Gypsum yes, drywall no.

Maybe that's an American thing, never heard of or found any glass fibre in British Gypsum's plasterboard.

 

[Meadowlark]

AI Question: What does plaster board contain other than gypsum?

AI Response: Plasterboards are typically constructed from gypsum plaster that has been sandwiched between two layers of paper or fibre-glass mats

 

[Oliver Buckle]

I checked, yes there is some in the UK that has glassfibre in it, but it is specialised stuff called Glassroc F that is used for specialist fire insulation, the common or garden stuff doesn't, it's just paper. I'm pretty sure it would soon show when you started breaking it up.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Hello. Good move replacing that heavy clay. A 1:1:1 ratio of topsoil, sharp sand, and compost is a solid starting point for improving drainage and fertility.

If the area tends to hold water, you could tweak it to 40% topsoil, 30% sand, and 30% compost for even better drainage.

Just make sure to mix them well to avoid layering issues.

The problem with this is it needs somewhere to drain to. I have similar soil and if I dug a hole and refilled it it would turn into a hole full of slushy mud as soon as it rained. I have dug out holes and filled them with wood, then built a bed on top of what becomes sodden wood. Slightly raised the bed has drainage, but because of the wood remains moist.

 

[cpp gardener]

Whatever you add or replace creates a layer with a different texture than the native soil. The change in texture causes water to ‘pool’ at that point. This is called a ‘perched water table’. This point must be completely saturated before the water will move into the next layer. It will stay moister above that point than below that point.