[jmc1949]

Sorry to hijack this thread but like Craig I have some very heavy clay to deal with. Yesterday, dug an area 6x4 to a spade depth, then yesterday evening a torrential rainshower came down. Went back today to find the area I'd dug full to the top with water. So like Craig I need to do something as this area will eventually be about 18 ft x 4ft long and will have my currents and gooseberry bushes in.

I'm getting to the point now, realising I need to add sharp sand/compost/manure etc to improve the area how deep would I have to dig and improve so the roots of the bushes don't drown.

Just digging an area helps to break up compacted soil and usually improves drainage - as you have already done that, I have concerns that digging down deeper is not going to be the answer but perhaps go for building up by having raised beds instead so that the roots of bushes will not be sitting in water.

Thanks for the reply. We have had an exceptional amount of rain but I think you may be right. I'll have to put some raised beds in. My plot is on the slightly higher part of the site but it seems wetter than those at the lower end. Oh well, start replanning.

[Amilo]

The soil in a jam jar is good, I have used it myself, however its easier to see the results if you use something like a source bottle or any container that has a much more hight than width. I makes the various layers easer to see due to thickness of the layers.

[mumofstig]

when you dug down one spade depth did you hit a hard layer, a hard pan?

This would stop the water draining away, if you're on a higher plot, then you should have better drainage.

If it is a hard pan layer, often caused by repeated rotovating, then either digging it (double digging)  if possible, or pushing a fork into the hard layer and wiggling/levering the fork to loosen the soil will improve the drainage  

[jmc1949]

Hi Mum - thanks for the reply.
When I dug down a spade depth it just the same clay underneath. I'll try digging another spade depth down and see what's underneath that.  This is only our third growing season and when we took it over it hadn't been used for many years. It was just a small field that had previously had chicken coops on. As far as I'm aware our site has never been rotavated.

[mumofstig]

You can only try, then
I was just hoping you could avoid the expence of building raised beds....................

Good luck!