Improving soil for gardening. - Ask Extension
We are new to South Dakota from northwest Minnesota. We live on the outskirts of Wall. The land around our house was once a horse pasture, clay. How...
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Improving soil for gardening. #798664
Asked June 29, 2022, 5:49 PM EDT
We are new to South Dakota from northwest Minnesota. We live on the outskirts of Wall. The land around our house was once a horse pasture, clay. How can we make this soil better for vegetable and flower gardening?
Pennington County South Dakota
Expert Response
Depending on your schedule and the size of the area, you might want to plant cover crops to increase the organic matter of the soil. They could be planted now thru early fall, and, depending on the crop, allowed to winterkill, or mowed. Peas and oats, for example will winterkill, and provide some nitrogen as well for whatever is planted afterwards.
