This map depicts 61 soil types within the state of Texas. Many SETX gardeners have Gulf Coast Prairie soil type which can be beneficial to plants due clay soils nutrient density but is difficult to manage and allow plants maximum nutrient benefit (USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service).
By John Green, Orange’s Certified Texas Expert Gardener
Gardeners, most of you are aware the principal soil type in the majority of SETX locations (Orange & Jefferson counties) is termed ‘Gulf Coast Prairie’ appearing dark-gray and consisting of slightly acid clay loam with mixtures of clay. As you probably know, clay soil can be challenging for gardeners and plants. While rich in nutrients, heavy clay soil drains slowly retaining moisture longer than other soil types. The soil becomes hard when dry, often showing fissures on the surface. Clay soils can be difficult to cultivate and problematic for plant roots to penetrate.
What is a SETX gardener to do? The quick answer is to make the soil “softer” and more friable, so let me explain how this works! Let me again stress the importance of having soil analysis completed before planting anything! Otherwise, your gardening ‘journey’ is going to be stressful, cumbersome, and more expensive because soil structure and nutrient levels are the core building blocks for plant growth. A proven process which I have used for many years is listed below and provides me with an abundant harvest of flowers and vegetables every season.
Soil Analysis: to reiterate a point made numerous times previously, but which must be stressed again, have a soil analysis completed before planting anything! Contact the local county extension office agent and request assistance. They will provide exact details on how to capture and handle soil samples for submission to Texas A&M AgriLife for testing. The web site address is the sample submittal form and provides detailed steps (note: submitting forms on-line will save a few dollars)-https://soiltesting.tamu.edu/soiltesting/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/05/soilwebform.pdf. For many plants, the ‘ideal’ pH range is 6.3 to 6.8. Noted earlier, clay soil is rich in nutrients but may be more acidic or alkaline which interferes with plants’ ability to uptake nutrients.
Organic Matter: really does matter as this helps by improving soil structure by increasing drainage ability and ‘lightens’ heavy soil. It further improves the soil by adding beneficial nutrients building the microbiome (soil microorganisms). Add a 2 to 3-inch layer of compost and aged manure before planting in spring plant, using a spade turning the amendments into the soil shovel depth. I personally continue adding layers of organic material such as grass clippings (without weeds), mushroom compost, or mulched leaves. Earthworms and microorganisms in the soil will “devour” the organic matter, breaking it down into nutrient-dense soil. A continual supply of organic material is required, which ‘feeds’ them and keeps them working!
Elevated Beds: since clay soil retains water, building raised beds can help with drainage. There are numerous types of raised beds which can be as simple as mounding soil or constructed with various geometric dimensions made of wood, brick, stone, or numerous other materials. My preference when building elevated beds is having the ability to reach the middle from either side. Typical raised beds are no more than 4 feet wide and can be any length you prefer. The depth of a raised bed is determined by the plant types to be planted. Mature plant root systems are widely varied from a few inches to many feet, so at minimum the depth a raised bed would have is 12-inches that will allow for many varieties of plant growth. Soil quality is critically important when filling a raised bed and requires good quality garden soil, compost, and aged manure. Mix the soil and amendments together…and you guessed it: soil test!
Mulch, Mulch, Mulch: this is another point made numerous times over the years, Mulch is the single-handed best gardeners’ friend we have…unless you can convince another person to help pull weeds! Yeah right-like this is going to happen! Mulch is a gardener’s best defense for creating a ‘weed barrier’ but has an added benefit as the mulch decomposes, a layer of nutrients is added back into the soil. Never allow soil to remain bare, doing so allows rainfall to compact the soil, making it difficult to cultivate or roots to penetrate. Other added benefits of mulch: water retention during our extreme summer temperatures and mulch allows plant roots to remain cooler. There are several mulch types such as grass clipping, straw, shredded leaves, and others that will provide good effect. Remember that if you choose to use a tiller to turn the soil and amendments under many earthworms which digest the organic materials supplied are being destroyed, meaning soil friability can suffer.
Expanded Shale: is a common sedimentary rock that is comprised of flakes of clay and other minerals such as quartz and calcite. Expanded shale is found in Texas from a time when Texas was a gigantic lakebed, seems like only yesterday to me! The flakes are lightweight, a porous gravel which is gray in color and related to perlite and vermiculite. Adding it to heavy clay soil lightens and aerates the soil. Expanded shale does not break down and remains ‘flaky’ for years while holding up to 40% of its weight by volume in water, which allows for increased water retention for plants.
Greensand: is an organic fertilizer containing mineral deposits from the ocean floor. It can enhance soil structure, increase root growth, and provides for the overall health of plants through micro and macro nutrients. Greensand is not water soluble, so it must break up in the soil. Apply it directly to the soil in spring, and do not mix with water. The application rate for flower beds and vegetables gardens is 30 lbs. per 1000 square feet.
Let’s go out and grow ourselves a greener, more sustainable world, one plant at a time! I appreciate and answer all questions, so please continue sending comments & asking questions thru email to: jongreene57@gmail.com.
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