Fixing Hard Clay Garden Soil: Pine Bark, pH, and Targeted Fertilizing

Clay Is Good—It Just Needs Loosening

Best amendment: finely ground pine bark (cheaper and better than peat moss). Add 1–2 inches yearly, till 4–6 inches deep. Supplement with compost, leaves, manure.

Annual Routine

• Test pH—target 6.5–7 for vegetables.
• Start season with balanced fertilizer (8-8-8, 13-13-13) at 1 lb N/1000 sq ft.
• Corn/leafy greens: nitrate of soda every 2 weeks at same rate.
• Fruiting veg (tomatoes, peppers, squash): switch to lower N (6-12-12) at 0.5 lb N/1000 sq ft every 3 weeks.
• Root crops: 0-20-20 once a year at 2 lbs/1000 sq ft.
• Fall: overseed annual ryegrass to till in spring.