I'm getting a garden ready for spring here in January.The soil is kind of compact and clay like. I have a bunch of leaves sitting on top of it now.I plan to till all the leaves into the soil, and till the soil to break it all up.Thinking about adding some dried manure that I can pick up from the lowes.Also, saw some stuff called clay breaker which is gypsum.Will it be a good idea to add perlite too?
Web search your county agricultural extension office to find out what the soil is like in your area. Talk to your neighbors who garden. The only real way to know what you need is to soil test. But, you just about can't add to much organic matter. I don't use perlite in my garden. I don't need it because I keep adding whatever organic matter I can find---leaves, hay, compost. I can't comment on the gypsum. I just don't know. I don't need anything like that either.
Leaf mold like Leaf-gro or organic compost. I'd till the leaves in and just top the whole thing with a foot thick layer of compost. I don't till at all as it disrupts the natural state of mycorrhiza fungus and the natural critters in the soil that make the soil healthy. Leave the compost on top and the worms will come and incorporate the compost for you. It works great for me and I live in Maryland where the soil is mostly compacted clay. Just don't leave that layer of leaves as it will act as a barrier.
i like to make a salad with iceberg lettuce, mandarin oranges, and silvered almonds. upload a vinagrettte dressing on the section so the lettuce does not get soggy. in case you have the persistence, upload some pomegranate. if no longer, upload some apple slices.
