Argh, I hate rocky clay soil.

Want Them All · 09-27-2009, 06:34 PM

I'm trying to dig a hole for a 5-gallon white sapote. Keep hitting rocks, finally got it to be 3' wide and 2' deep, poured some water in it, 20 minutes later, most of the water is still there. I heard that if I use a post digger to make a hole at least another foot further down and fill it with gravels. This deep hole should be about 9" in diameter and 1' deep. Then plant the tree in the original 3' x 2' hole. Drainage will no longer be an issue. Has anybody done this?

sunfish · 09-27-2009, 07:11 PM

I would use a perforated pipe with filter fabric. Extend the pipe 2" above grade so air can get in . You can also buy a hand pump that is made to pump out any standing water in the pipe.

Want Them All · 09-27-2009, 07:31 PM

How deep into the ground do you recommend I insert the pipe? How far away from the trunk? How many pipes is enough?

Thanks,

Tomsamba · 10-02-2009, 07:14 AM

My yard has these conditions, same conditions in places. Good fertile soil about 4" deep, crappy clay and rocks about 18" deep and some God awful looking crap below, that is totally nutrient free. So what I started doing was digging down about a foot and mixing that stuff with just organics and sand. Then building frames out of 2 x 4's up around the hole depending on the plant size and filling with good stuff, dirt, sand and poop, that I mixed up. Basically a raised bed for each plant, then as the roots of each plant locks up the good stuff above ground I remove the frames. I have also been putting a bunch of worm eggs each time I plant something. The soil in my entire yard is improving. I have a long way to go(big yard), but I am on my way.

Want Them All · 10-02-2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomsamba

My yard has these conditions, same conditions in places. Good fertile soil about 4" deep, crappy clay and rocks about 18" deep and some God awful looking crap below, that is totally nutrient free. So what I started doing was digging down about a foot and mixing that stuff with just organics and sand. Then building frames out of 2 x 4's up around the hole depending on the plant size and filling with good stuff, dirt, sand and poop, that I mixed up. Basically a raised bed for each plant, then as the roots of each plant locks up the good stuff above ground I remove the frames. I have also been putting a bunch of worm eggs each time I plant something. The soil in my entire yard is improving. I have a long way to go(big yard), but I am on my way.

That's a good idea, raised bed planting. For my situation I was able to dig the "chimney drains", I dug 2 of them 2' further down from the bottom of the original hole, filled them with pea gravels. Water seems to be draining down there fast when I water.

Tomsamba · 10-02-2009, 06:34 PM

Are you actually digging down another two feet or do you have a drill bit to do it? I thought about the drill bit.....

sunfish · 10-02-2009, 07:40 PM

If the ground is not to bad try using a post hole digger.

Tomsamba · 10-02-2009, 07:46 PM

Shoot...not to bad? Mine is bloody awful...hence the drill....

Want Them All · 10-04-2009, 01:33 PM

The drill bit I have is too small, only 1" in diameter, it's used to drill holes about 12" deep around some plants, fill them with sand, to improve drainage.

I use this bad boy to dig all my planting holes, as well as for the chimney drain. To scoop out the dirt from the drain hole, I have a post digger.

Tomsamba · 10-04-2009, 05:33 PM

OK I am extremely jealous....I need one badly.....

MediaHound · 10-04-2009, 09:15 PM

YouTube - Dyna-Diggr Powel Shovel

YouTube - Dyna-Diggr - User's Guide

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Abnshrek · 10-04-2009, 11:27 PM

I've dug some holes in my day, but I never used a jackhammer with a shovelhead.. lol I can borrow a rotary pump hole digger when I put in my fence but if I'm planting something I'm digging it by hand to get my exercise I have clay down about 18 inches with copper lookin' rocks and a combination of black dirt and sand mix above that.

Dean W. · 12-21-2009, 07:13 PM

I have the same type stuff here.

09-27-2009, 06:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Want Them All Want Them All's Photo Gallery Location: Central California, USA Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 553 BananaBucks : 531,798 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 333 Times in 140 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Argh, I hate rocky clay soil. I'm trying to dig a hole for a 5-gallon white sapote. Keep hitting rocks, finally got it to be 3' wide and 2' deep, poured some water in it, 20 minutes later, most of the water is still there. I heard that if I use a post digger to make a hole at least another foot further down and fill it with gravels. This deep hole should be about 9" in diameter and 1' deep. Then plant the tree in the original 3' x 2' hole. Drainage will no longer be an issue. Has anybody done this? __________________

09-27-2009, 07:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,309,229 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,593 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Argh, I hate rocky clay soil. I would use a perforated pipe with filter fabric. Extend the pipe 2" above grade so air can get in . You can also buy a hand pump that is made to pump out any standing water in the pipe.

09-27-2009, 07:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
Want Them All Want Them All's Photo Gallery Location: Central California, USA Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 553 BananaBucks : 531,798 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 333 Times in 140 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Argh, I hate rocky clay soil. How deep into the ground do you recommend I insert the pipe? How far away from the trunk? How many pipes is enough? Thanks, __________________

10-02-2009, 07:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tomsamba Another banana loving git Tomsamba's Photo Gallery Location: Gurabo, Puerto Rico Find me on the map! Zone: 11-12 Name: Tomsamba Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 85 BananaBucks : 43,221 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 10 Times Was Thanked 35 Times in 18 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Argh, I hate rocky clay soil. My yard has these conditions, same conditions in places. Good fertile soil about 4" deep, crappy clay and rocks about 18" deep and some God awful looking crap below, that is totally nutrient free. So what I started doing was digging down about a foot and mixing that stuff with just organics and sand. Then building frames out of 2 x 4's up around the hole depending on the plant size and filling with good stuff, dirt, sand and poop, that I mixed up. Basically a raised bed for each plant, then as the roots of each plant locks up the good stuff above ground I remove the frames. I have also been putting a bunch of worm eggs each time I plant something. The soil in my entire yard is improving. I have a long way to go(big yard), but I am on my way.

10-02-2009, 06:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tomsamba Another banana loving git Tomsamba's Photo Gallery Location: Gurabo, Puerto Rico Find me on the map! Zone: 11-12 Name: Tomsamba Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 85 BananaBucks : 43,221 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 10 Times Was Thanked 35 Times in 18 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Argh, I hate rocky clay soil. Are you actually digging down another two feet or do you have a drill bit to do it? I thought about the drill bit.....

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10-02-2009, 07:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,309,229 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,593 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Argh, I hate rocky clay soil. If the ground is not to bad try using a post hole digger.

10-02-2009, 07:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tomsamba Another banana loving git Tomsamba's Photo Gallery Location: Gurabo, Puerto Rico Find me on the map! Zone: 11-12 Name: Tomsamba Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 85 BananaBucks : 43,221 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 10 Times Was Thanked 35 Times in 18 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Argh, I hate rocky clay soil. Shoot...not to bad? Mine is bloody awful...hence the drill....

10-04-2009, 01:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
Want Them All Want Them All's Photo Gallery Location: Central California, USA Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 553 BananaBucks : 531,798 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 333 Times in 140 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Argh, I hate rocky clay soil. The drill bit I have is too small, only 1" in diameter, it's used to drill holes about 12" deep around some plants, fill them with sand, to improve drainage. I use this bad boy to dig all my planting holes, as well as for the chimney drain. To scoop out the dirt from the drain hole, I have a post digger. __________________

10-04-2009, 05:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
Tomsamba Another banana loving git Tomsamba's Photo Gallery Location: Gurabo, Puerto Rico Find me on the map! Zone: 11-12 Name: Tomsamba Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 85 BananaBucks : 43,221 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 10 Times Was Thanked 35 Times in 18 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Argh, I hate rocky clay soil. OK I am extremely jealous....I need one badly.....

10-04-2009, 11:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek 's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,493 BananaBucks : 281,280 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,443 Times in 5,238 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: Argh, I hate rocky clay soil. I've dug some holes in my day, but I never used a jackhammer with a shovelhead.. lol I can borrow a rotary pump hole digger when I put in my fence but if I'm planting something I'm digging it by hand to get my exercise I have clay down about 18 inches with copper lookin' rocks and a combination of black dirt and sand mix above that. __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

12-21-2009, 07:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4,279 BananaBucks : 279,857 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,325 Times Was Thanked 2,130 Times in 972 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 300 Times	Re: Argh, I hate rocky clay soil. I have the same type stuff here. __________________

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