Clay soil and Lime

[Dean Lofthouse]

There's a big grassed area down at my yard which is clay soil and always wet through.

 

A Farmer told me to put lime on it to improve drainage, says it expands the molecules and helps

 

Does anyone know if this is true, is it temporary and do you have to keep applying it and will the grass tolerate it

[Alinicoll]

I can`t see why lime would help drainage, it would just alkalize the soil.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

So thats why they lime! i always thought it was more to do with PH and calcification, but clay is netral PH so this makes more sense.

 

Pitty we havent a soil geek on board?

[Mesterh]

So thats why they lime! i always thought it was more to do with PH and calcification, but clay is netral PH so this makes more sense.

 

Pitty we havent a soil geek on board?

 

There is and he says lime does just that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

His name is google:001_tongue: Soil improvements to avoid poor drainage in yard

[Arborist Sites]

Lime is well known to be a simple method to break down clay in the Ag industry.

 

It drastically raises the soil Ph which in turn breaks down the clay particles.

[Dean Lofthouse]

Thats sounds good, the only question is once it has broken down the clay particles does it become a permanent thing, ie it turns it into "normal" free draining soil

[skyhuck]

Thats sounds good, the only question is once it has broken down the clay particles does it become a permanent thing, ie it turns it into "normal" free draining soil

 

I would think once the soil is broken down, worms will get to work and continue the improvements.

[Dean Lofthouse]

I would think once the soil is broken down, worms will get to work and continue the improvements.

 

I think your right Dave just found this:

 

When adequate quantities of lime and water are added, the pHof the soil

quickly increases to above 10.5, which enables the clay particles to break down.

Silica and alumina are released and react with calcium fromthe lime to form

calcium-silicate-hydrates (CSH) and calcium-aluminate-hydrates (CAH). These

compounds formthe matrix that contributes to the strength of lime-stabilized

soil layers. As this matrix forms, the soil is transformed fromits highly

expansive, undesirable natural state to a more granular, relatively impermeable

material that can be compacted into a layer with significant load bearing

capacity. In a properly designed system, days of mellowing and curing

produce years of performance. The controlled pozzolanic reaction creates a

new material that is permanent, durable, resistant to cracking, and significantly

impermeable. The structural layer that forms is both strong and flexible.

 

 

and a good explanation here:

 

http://www.lime.org/LTStechbrief4pdf.pdf

 

It's really good to know if anyone has got a yard with is clay based soil there can be drastic drainage improvements simply by adding a bit of lime ......wow !

[nepia]

I would think once the soil is broken down, worms will get to work and continue the improvements.

 

 

...only if there's decomposing organic matter for them to feed on. You're probably going to need to apply every few years, if not more often, as soil always reverts to type.

Have you considered physical drainage methods such as a gravel-filled trench below the tree or even putting in a land drain if you're looking to the long term? I don't know the topography so these may not be feasible but if they are they'd be permanent.

[Dean Lofthouse]

The site is on a slight slope with a drain trench dug at the bottom, the water stands only feet away from the drain because it cant get through the clay soil to the drain and the clay soil layer is only a foot or so thick.

 

Land drains underneath the soil dont work either because the same happens the clay is too dense for the water to penetrate.

 

It is suggested that once lime is added, organic material should be added ( which could be in the form of woodchip ) which I presume is to keep open the structure or feed the worms