Jason Matthew wrote: The soil I am working has been mowed for 20 years. It is hard, compacted clay that refuses to let roots penetrate. This fall I will plant a soil building seed mix, and a sod busting seed mix from an organic garden supplier. If these do not work... I will probably try at least a couple of years with these mixes; otherwise the only option is to dig in tons of organic matter. Not really viable without heavy equipment for any amount of ground larger than a postage stamp.
I'm in a similar position - trying to establish a permaculture- inspired orchard on 1/2 acre of heavy clay, former pasture that lost all it's topsoil due to overgrazing. Much of it is still in grass and sweet clover, which improved the condition of the top 3 inches of soil over the past 4 years, but i'm trying to speed the soil improvement along. The areas mulched with cut grass are much better in the top 1-2" and retain moisture better, but if allowed to dry out the subsoil is still like a brick. This year I tilled a section and seeded it with sweet clover. Sweet clover roots are supposed to go about 12' deep, breaking up the hard packed soil and drawing minerals from the subsoil to the surface where the crops can use them. Due to the drought, I watered the seeded area regularly for the first few weeks, but now the sweet clover is thriving on its own. Next fall I will mow it before it goes to seed (sweet clover is a biennial) and dig into a few spots to see if/ how much the soil has improved.
Sorry about going off topic, but wanted to share my experience and the sweet clover idea with you.
