There is no soil that can not be amended!

Clay laden soils cause difficulties in growing plants for several reasons - there is little oxygen within it, the impermeable character of the clay is a barrier to young propagating roots, it is sticky and hard to work with - and further, clay laden soil has a high alkalinity which is hard on roots.

When clay laden soil is mechanically broken up by tilling or spading, the loosened of the soil structure makes air pockets for much needed oxygen which is introduced - and when an amendment is added to the soil such as gypsum, further chemical remediation is added to the mix.

Gypsum is used both as a chemical and physical amendment for such soils. Sulphur is added from the gypsum, and the calcium in gypsum when mixed with water becomes soluble and is also taken up by the plant; both essentially for growth. The gypsum both mechanically and chemically breaks down the clay barrier to the plant growth and promotes porosity for drainage.

At Aguinaga Green, we contend that there is no soil that can not be amended!

GPS1 (general purpose soil amendment) is made from composted and totally "green" plant and tree cuttings. Visit either of our locations (East Orange or Irvine) to pick up some GPS1. We can load it right into your truck bed. We also deliver. Call 1-877-OC-MULCH for delivery prices or if you'd like some advice on how much product you need for your project. The general rule is that one cubic yard will cover approximately 100 square feet with three inches of material

Once you have the GPS1, you'll need to break up the top six inches of the clay soil. It's best to do this when the soil is dry, not wet. You can do this with a shovel or you can rent a tiller. Then add the GPS1 and mix it in. The area will be higher, and this will help with drainage.