How can i improve bad soil,so it,s fit for growing flowers,outside?

the dirt outside my house,is dry and clay like,and has old roots growing under the dirt!

How can i improve bad soil,so it,s fit for growing flowers,outside?
It takes some time but it can be done. I've done it twice in houses I moved into. Don't throw away any organic thing: grass, leaves, weeds, tree limbs, tree bark, etc. Make a spot for that stuff and put it all there or when you cut the grass, leave the clippings. In the spring you can 'vacuum' the leaves with your lawn mower and use that as mulch around plants instead of buying it -- although any mulch-like material you get onto and into the soil will help.





Plant ground cover plants around larger plants. Consider planting ecologically friendly plants like white clover -- you can get seeds at lawn and garden stores.





Read about the things in your house you can use to amend the soil like vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, egg shells, fruit peels. Cover an area with newspapers with rocks to hold it down to block weeds and after an amount of time dig the paper into the soil as you dig and prepare it for planting. Look on the internet for something like natural soil amendments; clay soil planting -- stuff like that.





If the roots in your soil are connected to trees in your yard I think some would tell you not to cut them. When I come across roots I cut them (if I can) and they biodegrade and help the process along.





If you are doing planting as you go, and that will help, be sure to lay out your plan first. In my first house, I got a tree from the Arbor Day Foundation that was labeled as one thing but turned out to be a Black Locust. The tree I expected was small and I planted it just about in the middle of the yard. Well, it grew and sent out runners so I spent lots of time keeping my crop of Black Locust trees under control. The growing activity of the tree helped with the soil improvement by breaking it up where the runners spread.





So the point is plant big stuff in the far corners unless you want a big plant close.





That's it. I plant perennials when I buy plants and use seeds for annuals.





Have fun!
Reply:i'd say the best thing you can do is rake that as best you can, loosen it and stuff. try and get rid of as much class as you can, and rocks, then add top soil, or softer dirt, buy some if you need. The quicker you plant in it the quick its rooted down.
Reply:All the dirt that you mentioned can be useful to the plants. Just buy top soil and put them on top of your so-called bad soil. In 5-6 months, that will also serve as fertilizer.
Reply:Buy a Mantis Tiller and work in lots of compost, peat moss, some sand, if it is clay soil. Any additional soil amendment


will help. Your garden will be wonderful.

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