A common misconception about clay soil is that it is unsuitable for plants and bulbs. However, there are areas in Australia where clay soil is the only option available. If that is the case, there are many ways to improve and water clay soil effectively.
Watering clay soil is challenging because it does not drain water very well, and overwatering may cause plants to die. The best way to water your clay soil is to do it profoundly and infrequently while improving the soil by adding organic matter, such as shredded leaves, compost and manure.
Irrigating clay soil for growing plants is quite a challenge. However, getting over the challenge is pretty rewarding—especially if you are a plant enthusiast or just love gardening in general.
If you need irrigation advice, speaking to your local irrigation supplier can be a handy source of information – from choosing the right sprinklers for clay soil to how often to water.
Let’s discuss what clay soil is and the best strategies to improve clay soil for your garden.
Table of Contents
What Is Clay Soil?
Clay soil is a type of soil that is made up of mostly clay particles and has a lighter texture when dry, and is quite sticky when wet. It. Because of the low permeability of clay soil, it does not drain water very well—which leads to waterlogged soil, causing plants to die or rot.
If your garden puddles instead of soaking in the water when watering your plants, it probably consists of clay. Another way to determine if your soil contains clay is by checking if the soil sticks on your shoes and garden tools. Clay soil also cracks during dry weather, making it easier for you to identify if the soil in your garden has clay deposits.
But don’t worry, growing plants is still possible even if your ground is clay-heavy. All you need to do is follow the right irrigation methods and techniques for clay soil improvement.
Watering clay soil differs from watering loamy soil, so the best thing you can do is to first determine whether your soil consists of clay before you grow plants in your garden.
Pros and Cons of Clay Soil
There are some positives to having clay soil in your garden, but it isn’t all good news. Here are the pros and cons of clay soil.
Pros of Clay Soil
Although you might think that clay soil is inferior compared to other types of soil when growing plants, clay soil has some advantages, such as:
Nutrient-Rich – Being rich in nutrients is one of the main benefits of clay soil. Clay soil contains and holds nutrients very well making it an optimal choice to grow plants in, as they will grow healthier and faster.
Drought Resistant – If you live in an area that is regularly affected by droughts, clay soil is an excellent choice for soil. Clay soil naturally retains water much more efficiently than other types of soil, allowing your plants to endure droughts easier, while using less water to compensate. This also makes clay soil a great choice for areas that have water restrictions.
Wind Resistant – Clay soil is excellent if you live in a particularly windy area. Wind erosion affects many types of soil and can be difficult to deal with. However, clay soil is one of the most wind resistant types of soil, making it a great option for people regularly affected by strong winds.
Cons of Clay Soil
That doesn’t make clay an all-around great option for growing plants. Clay has some disadvantages, including:
Water Logging – Clay soil naturally retains water very easily. This is a good thing during the summer, as it will help keep your plants hydrated for longer, but can be a big negative during the rainy seasons. Clay soil retaining water can easily lead to waterlogged land and overwatering your plants.
Soil Heaving – Clay soil is more susceptible to heaving. Soil heaving is the swelling and expansion of soil, usually during wet seasons. This process will uproot plants and can cause unstable and uneven ground. Clay soil is among the types of soil most susceptible to heaving.
Susceptibility To Rain Erosion – Although wind erosion is usually not a concern for clay soil, rain erosion and water runoff are generally very negative for any gardener or landscaper using clay soil. Rain erosion will quickly erode your garden and cause instability in the earth, which is bad for your plants and can even be dangerous to walk near.
Overall, there are several techniques for growing plants using clay soil, such as watering them appropriately and adding more organic matter to even out the distribution of nutrients without overwhelming the plants. Overwatering can lead to patchy lawn just as easily as overwatering, as can nutrient runoff.
All it takes is a couple of adjustments to your regular gardening and watering routine. The best part is they are easy to learn—especially if it is your first time gardening.
What Irrigation Is Best for Clay Soil?
The best type of irrigation for clay soil is a system of low precipitation rotary head sprinklers, because clay soil absorbs water slowly, and this type of sprinkler will help avoid overwatering.
If you have an area with clay soil, it’s important to install the best type of sprinkler for the soil. Using whatever type of sprinkler you have on hand can be dangerous, as clay soil can easily be overwatered and become waterlogged. This is especially hazardous if your garden is at the peak of a slope, as overwatered clay soil can be eroded by water very easily and can cause runoff that will harm other plants, and can be dangerous to property in severe cases.
Installing a sprinkler controller is also important to regulate how much water you’re giving your lawn.
To ensure your clay soil is properly irrigated, we recommend a series of low precipitation rotary head sprinklers, such as the Rainbird falcon 6504. This type of sprinkler head is one of the best available that won’t overwater clay soil, so you won’t have to worry about drowning your plants.
We recommend the Rainbird line of rotary sprinklers, a range of high-quality sprinklers perfect for watering a variety of soil types, especially clay soil. Rainbird sprinklers provide especially even coverage and are well-suited to most Australian yards.
Browse our full range of lawn sprinklers or contact Hills Irrigation if you need advice on the right option for you.
How Much Water Does Clay Soil Need?
Clay soil only needs the minimum amount of water to keep the soil wet without causing a puddle, and the key to watering clay soil is to water them less frequently than you would if your garden consisted of loamy soil.
Watering soil might be the biggest challenge in most gardens, whether your soil contains clay. Many first-time plant owners or gardeners tend to overwater their plants. However, overwatering your plants is not always good, especially in clay soil, as it is the most common reason for plants dying—aside from the roots not growing because of the tight clay particles.
When watering your plants in clay soil, make sure that you place fifteen to twenty centimetres of organic matter on the top of your soil before digging a hole for your plant. The best type of organic matter would be untreated grass clippings, rotted manure, compost, and shredded leaves.
Mix your organic matter into the top fifteen to thirty centimetres of the soil using a shovel. Note that it is better to use a shovel rather than a tiller because it does not pulverise the soil particles. However, if shovelling is too hard on your back—using a tiller is still acceptable as long as you are careful.
There can be different amounts of clay in soils around your property. A patch of land that is completely clay soil will need to be watered differently to an area that only has trace amounts.
Identifying how much clay is in an area and the optimal amount of water necessary can be difficult, so it’s best to have a chat with a local irrigation expert for more information.
Why It’s Important to Not Overwater Clay Soil
It’s important not to overwater clay soil because it retains water much easier and can cause you to accidentally overwater your plants. Clay soil is a low permeability soil which means it retains water easily, and plants in it won’t need watering as often.
On any other soil type, such as loamy or sandy soil—water can drain quickly, which means you need to apply more water to reach the roots. Note that watering clay soil differs from watering other soil types, meaning the chances of overwatering clay soil are higher—so you have to be very careful.
If you are concerned about overwatering, consider installing a lawn sprinkler system to give you precise control over the amount of water applied. Installing an automated sprinkler system with a sprinkler timer is the best way to prevent overwatering and reduce your water bills.
How Often Should I Water My Clay Soil?
You should use only water clay soil as it dries, which can take roughly a week. Watering your clay soil once a week is the best way to avoid overwatering since it can hold water longer than other types of soil.
You will notice that the soil changes colours when drying up—notifying you it’s time to water your clay soil.
However, during the wet seasons, clay soil holds water much longer—meaning you don’t need to water it as frequently. So during wet seasons and if it rains a lot in your area—you might not need to water your clay soil, especially if the rain does the job for you.
Depending on your schedule, it can be difficult to always have your plants watered when they need it. Even with clay soil that retains water very well, having a structured watering schedule can make the difference between healthy and overwatered plants. If you don’t have the ability to monitor your plants 24/7, there are options for you.
Installing a sprinkler timer is one of the best ways to automate your watering process. Sprinkler controllers are the key to watering plants for optimum health, especially in clay soil. These advanced machines will perfectly time your watering schedule and are completely customisable by you.
Not sure which sprinkler controller is best for you? Your local irrigation supply store can help you create the perfect watering schedule for your plants and your climate.
How Do You Water Clay Soil?
The best way to water clay soil is to pour water gradually until it soaks the clay soil. If water puddles, that means you applied too much. Make sure that you slowly water the plants in clay soil to penetrate deeply instead of running off. Applying too much water to clay soil can cause runoff.
Watering your plants gradually will allow you to estimate the right amount of water to cover the entire plant box or ground without creating a puddle that can cause overwatering.
You can use a watering can or sprayer to water your plants in clay soil to help you water them with just the right amount. Alternatively, install low flow sprinklers or a drip irrigation system to help water clay soil gradually.
Can You Deep Water With Clay Soil?
Yes, slow deep watering is ideal for clay soil. You can deep water clay soil by applying water gradually. You can improve the water penetration by adding at least fifteen centimetres of organic matter to open up the clay soil’s pores, especially if your plants need to be watered frequently.
Adding organic matter allows the clay soil to open up more and become less dense for water to penetrate and reach your plant’s roots—getting the right amount of water to sustain life and grow beautifully.
Deep watering is easiest to achieve through dripline irrigation or other slow watering systems.
How to Improve Drainage in Clay Soil
Adding either gypsum or lime clay breaker to your clay soil will help improve drainage. Gypsum and lime both chemically change the clay soil to prevent the clay from clumping up, and instead makes it more friable and easy to work with.
Because clay soil isn’t naturally friable, it has a tendency to create large clumps. This action can reduce drainage in the soil and make it harder to work with. Adding a gypsum or lime clay breaker will allow both your tools and water to move more easily through the clay soil.
How to Improve Clay Soil With Gypsum – Using gypsum is an easy and effective way to improve the drainage of your clay soil long term. Adding a few handfuls to each square metre of your garden, then watering and turning the ground will incorporate the gypsum into the soil over the course of a few months.
In time, the gypsum will react with the clay and break down the clay chunks, making the soil easier to till and improve water drainage in it. Adding compost or other organic matter at the same time you incorporate the gypsum will help speed up this process and can reduce the amount of gypsum you will need to reapply in the future.
How to Improve Clay Soil with Lime – Adding lime to your clay soil is a natural way of breaking down large clumps in your clay soil to help improve drainage and water flow in the soil. The lime will naturally increase the pH levels of the clay soil, which helps produce clay soil that has fewer, large clumps.
Many types of plants grow better in soil that is more acidic. Adding the acidity from the lime helps improve the growth of plants in clay soil, which is normally more alkaline.
Related Questions
In Which Type of Soil Is Water Logging Common?
Waterlogging is common in soils with poor internal drainage, such as clay soil. As a result, the soil can get oversaturated, causing plants to die or not grow as much. To avoid waterlogging, practice ‘low and slow’ watering, such as dripline irrigation.
What Is the Difference Between Clay and Loamy Soil?
Clay soil, as the name implies, has a percentage of clay, while loamy soil is made up of much more even amounts of sand, silt and clay. Clay soil is at retaining nutrients and is ideal for growing plants with shallow root systems, while loamy soil excels at draining water making it great for growing vegetables.
Is Clay Soil Good for Plants?
Clay soil is good for plants in providing a solid foundation for plants because of its density. It can also hold more nutrients for plants better than other types of soil. However, clay soil is not an ideal soil type for most plants.
Disclaimer:
This article is published for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website is strictly at your own risk. Always ensure you have the right qualifications and certifications to carry out DIY work and never put your safety at risk. Hills Irrigation recommends consulting a professional for all electrical and plumbing work.
Vince is Managing Director of Hills Irrigation and is supported by Lisa in an administrative capacity. Andrew, Isaac and Megan look after the day to day needs of both online and shop customers. As Project Manager, Vince is also responsible for installation projects along with his team. It is his responsibility to work closely with clients to ensure that scope of work is understood and followed.
