I have a large garden in my backyard that I am trying to cultivate. However the soil is very clay-like and hardens quickly like corn field dirt. Its too large to cover with miracle grow or anything and hand tilling it as well as keeping things alive in it is very hard. Any suggestions?
You would not use Miracle Grow for an entire garden. That would be extremely expensive. You do need to fill it with top soil which is cheap. I would rent a tiller from either Lowes or Home Depot. In order to soften the hard clay soil this is the best option. You will also need to add peat moss. It really is not as hard as you think. You will only need to do it once to get your garden in shape. The peat moss will help break it down. Once you over turn it you can plant whatever you like. If it flowers use mulch to finish it off. As the mulch breaks down this will help the soil as well.
You have to manage your garden in stages. And the first stage involves putting in plants that will go a long way toward helping to change your soil type for you while making the garden look nice. Look for plants that are species native to your area. Look for plants that propagate underground, because the creation of a network of roots helps till the soil. Look for plants that grow thick, because, again, this helps loosen the soil. And look for plants that will really spread both over one season, and from one season to the next. There are many herbs that fit the bill, including feverfew, mint, and pennyroyale. There are also many great decorative plant, like lilies and heliotropes, that will grow fast and help improve the soil. Also try ornamental grasses. After a few years of growing this stuff in your garden, and doing the relatively easy tasks of spreading some sand and compost over the soil, you should be able to start replacing your first-stage plants with plants that are more desirable, and slightly more difficult to grow. Your soil you be improved enough to consider plants with specific needs RE drainage and soil quality. And, if you really want something special, that requires really good soil, it will not be so difficult at this point to bump up the soil quality in a small area of your garden.
Raised beds? If not,a rear-tined tiller is in order, and add as much organic matter as you can manage. 4-6 inches would be good, but you'd have to have a cheap supply to be able to do a large area. If you have farms nearby, maybe you can arrange for a truckload of manure to be delivered. Gypsum can also help improve clay soils. You might also consider green manure, or cover crops, which are tilled in before they flower, during the off-season. There is no magic pill solution. It takes time and labor to improve poor soil.
Garden soil takes time to cultivate for the best results for your planting. Buy a soil test kit and test your soil. Your local garden center can help you determine what nutrients it is lacking (besides organic material). In the fall, start saving coffee grounds, peanut shells and shredded paper and throw it into your garden space to over winter. You can also add hay although I'm told you will have more weeds next Spring. In the Spring add organic compost and manure before planting. You may want to consider starting a compost pile. Compost is the best organic material for any soil. I've already spent four years cultivating my garden soil and this year I think it will be the best balanced I've ever had. It makes a big difference for plants.
Start with a smaller area, make some raised beds out of wood, and place the frames on the ground. Dig the soil inside each frame, and pile it all around the out side. Find out if someone has horse manure that they want to get rid of, and fill you raised bed with horse manure. Water the horse manure for two weeks, then buy strong flower and veggie plants, and plant them in the raised bed. This will give you a start until your soil gradually improves. One more thing about horse manure, a lot of cities collect, and take it to the dump. See if they would bring you a load.
