Dealing with Clay Soil, Part 1

Q: I think I may have clay soil. How can I tell, and how can I make it more suitable for planting?
A: El Paso County’s heavy clay soil can become good soil. Adding organic material and relieving compaction make a world of difference to your plants.

Here’s an easy (“quick and dirty,” so to speak) method to determine what type of soil you have. Wet a handful of soil. Compress it in your palm. If it stays together and is a bit slippery, you have clay. If it sifts through your hand without taking any shape, you have sand. If, by a miracle in El Paso County, you have a handful of sweet smelling, dark, crumbly soil, you have loam. If it turns out you do have clay, read on!