How to Separate Clay From Soil

Clay soil has a lot of nutrients in it, which can actually help your garden, but it is also a thick, sticky soil that rarely allows for water to drain. If you plan to start a garden of your own in clay soil, you'll need to fix the drainage issues in order to maintain a productive garden. There are a few ways you can take care of the problem including installing trenches to route away excess water, but most gardeners usually just separate the clay.

• 1

  Till the soil with a tiller to a depth of 9 inches.

• 2

  Scoop up the top 3 inches of clay soil and dispose of it in the woods or wherever you can.

• 3

  Add 3 to 4 inches of coarse sand to the remainder of the tilled soil. Too little sand mixed with clay soil will create something similar to concrete, so you must mix in at least 1/3 sand to the total mixed content.

• 4

  Till in the sand with the 6 inches of remaining clay.

• 5

  Till in vegetation, mulch, topsoil and other organic material to the soil to further separate the clay.