Gypsum - that's the ticket !!

"Srgnt Bilko" wrote in message
...

"Dave" wrote in message
om...
I have a section of lawn in a shady area that seems to have become too
miserable to keep grass growing thickly. The grass is sparse. Applying
fertilizer and grass seed does not seem to have much effect. It is
clay soil and well packed. I don't know if I need to apply something
or simply give up and rototill in a load of horse manure? Any
semi-expert opinions? Thanks.

There is a "clay buster" avaailable but the name is not coming to me right
now. Somebody will come up with it - it's a common solution - and
availble
at most garden centers around here.

"Srgnt Bilko" wrote in message ...

There is a "clay buster" avaailable but the name is not coming to me right
now. Somebody will come up with it - it's a common solution - and
availble
at most garden centers around here.


Gypsum - that's the ticket !!


And what does it do to clay? Make it crumble easier?

(Dave) wrote:
"Srgnt Bilko" wrote in message
...

There is a "clay buster" avaailable but the name is not coming to me
right now. Somebody will come up with it - it's a common solution -
and
availble
at most garden centers around here.


Gypsum - that's the ticket !!


And what does it do to clay? Make it crumble easier?

Snake oil.

"Dave" wrote in message
om...
"Srgnt Bilko" wrote in message
...

There is a "clay buster" avaailable but the name is not coming to me
right
now. Somebody will come up with it - it's a common solution - and
availble
at most garden centers around here.


Gypsum - that's the ticket !!


And what does it do to clay? Make it crumble easier?

"Dave" wrote in message
om...
"Srgnt Bilko" wrote in message
...

There is a "clay buster" avaailable but the name is not coming to me
right
now. Somebody will come up with it - it's a common solution - and
availble
at most garden centers around here.


Gypsum - that's the ticket !!


And what does it do to clay? Make it crumble easier?

Yes - I bought a bunch of bags at the end of the year for half price and
used it in my garden area. It worked for me.

Steveo wrote:
(Dave) wrote:
"Srgnt Bilko" wrote in message
...

There is a "clay buster" avaailable but the name is not coming to
me right now. Somebody will come up with it - it's a common
solution - and
availble
at most garden centers around here.


Gypsum - that's the ticket !!


And what does it do to clay? Make it crumble easier?

Snake oil.
Do a google search. You'll find many credible references on the use of
gypsum.

"William W. Plummer" wrote:
Steveo wrote:
(Dave) wrote:
"Srgnt Bilko" wrote in message
...

There is a "clay buster" avaailable but the name is not coming to
me right now. Somebody will come up with it - it's a common
solution - and
availble
at most garden centers around here.


Gypsum - that's the ticket !!


And what does it do to clay? Make it crumble easier?

Snake oil.

Do a google search. You'll find many credible references on the use of
gypsum.

Yes, as a calcium source. It does nothing to improve compacted clay soil.

Google gypsum myth.

Steveo wrote:
"William W. Plummer" wrote:
Steveo wrote:
(Dave) wrote:
"Srgnt Bilko" wrote in message
...

There is a "clay buster" avaailable but the name is not coming to
me right now. Somebody will come up with it - it's a common
solution - and
availble
at most garden centers around here.


Gypsum - that's the ticket !!


And what does it do to clay? Make it crumble easier?

Snake oil.

Do a google search. You'll find many credible references on the use
of gypsum.

Yes, as a calcium source. It does nothing to improve compacted clay
soil.

Google gypsum myth.

That article talks about Arizona soil problems. And, it is concerned with
sodium overload. The key quote from the article is: "In situations such
as this, applications of gypsum can provide a dramatic improvement in
returning the soil to its original condition. The calcium present in gypsum
actually displaces the sodium and allows it to be leached deeper into the
soil when accompanied by deep irrigation."

"William W. Plummer" wrote:
Steveo wrote:
"William W. Plummer" wrote:
Steveo wrote:
(Dave) wrote:
"Srgnt Bilko" wrote in message
...

There is a "clay buster" avaailable but the name is not coming to
me right now. Somebody will come up with it - it's a common
solution - and
availble
at most garden centers around here.


Gypsum - that's the ticket !!


And what does it do to clay? Make it crumble easier?

Snake oil.

Do a google search. You'll find many credible references on the use
of gypsum.

Yes, as a calcium source. It does nothing to improve compacted clay
soil.

Google gypsum myth.

That article talks about Arizona soil problems. And, it is concerned
with sodium overload. The key quote from the article is: "In
situations such as this, applications of gypsum can provide a dramatic
improvement in returning the soil to its original condition. The calcium
present in gypsum actually displaces the sodium and allows it to be
leached deeper into the soil when accompanied by deep irrigation."

Read on..

A persistent myth is that gypsum alleviates compaction. Landschoot states
unequivocally that this is not the case. This misunderstanding may stem
from the fact that gypsum is useful for displacing sodium in sodic soils.
Sodium causes soil particles to disperse, hence destroying soil structure.
However, this isn't really an issue in the Northeast or any other regions
where rainfall is high enough to naturally leach the sodium out of the
soil. Rather, compacted soils in such areas tend to result from the usual
factors such as traffic and high clay content. Gypsum won't influence these
things, so it can't substitute for practices that relieve compaction such
as aeration.