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Clay soils are heavy to dig and cultivate. They drain slowly after rain. They tend to warm up slowly after winter, leading to delayed plant growth.

On the positive side clay soils hold water well and are usually rich in plant nutrients.

To improve the structure of clay soil add a layer of organic matter (eg lawn clippings, leaves, corn stalks and straw, manure, wood and food processing wastes) 15 to 20 cm deep, and dig into the top 15 to 30 cm of soil. Alternatively a commercial gypsum based soil conditioner can be used.