[Kristen]

My veg plot was rough grass three years ago, the soil is heavy clay.

I have made "lazy beds" - beds 4 wide with paths about 18" - 24" in between. I just piled the path soil onto the beds to raise them up. I never walk on the beds. In three years the soil has transformed into something very usable.  I have put some muck on, but only really in the last year. My intention is to board up the edges and make them look smart ... eventually! Obviously with lazy-bed edges the soil slips down onto the paths, and that makes a bit of a muddle if you put down wood chip or some-such for the paths.

[crh75]

The use of lime will separate the water from the clay particles and allow them to bind with each other creating a better crumb size (a process called flocculation).