Vegetable plants grow best in fertile, loamy soil that drains well. Sandy- loam soils, well supplied with organic matter, are easily worked and quite productive. Unfortunately, most Georgia gardens don't have such soils.
Clay soils are hard to work and usually stay wet until late spring. They're often red or reddish brown and sticky when wet. They may be grayish where drainage is poor.
These soils tend to form a hard crust after a heavy rain. They become so compacted that the plant's roots can't get enough oxygen to grow. Both clay and sandy soils must be modified for successful vegetable gardening.
You can't expect to produce good vegetables on poorly drained soils. In many gardens, improving subsurface drainage with drain tile isn't practical. So surface drainage is critical.
Grade the surface so excess water will run off promptly, but in a controlled way, to prevent erosion. Leveling will eliminate pockets and low spots where water tends to stand for a long time.
Adding organic matter to clay and clay-loam soils will improve drainage and aeration, too. Another option for dealing with poor drainage is to grow the vegetables in raised beds or on planting ridges.
Don't get over-anxious in early spring. Never till or spade the soil until it's dry enough to crumble when worked. Soils high in clay content are easily damaged if worked when wet.
Soil amendments and conditioners can improve the soil's aeration, drainage, moisture-holding capacity, and workability. Common soil conditioners include compost, peat moss, composted manure, and coarse sand.
By incorporating coarse, rather than fine, sand and organic matter into a garden soil, you can, over time, produce a desirable, loamy-type soil. However, adding fine sand to clay can produce something similar to a brick.
Uniformly apply 3 to 4 inches of organic matter and, if available, 1 to 2 inches of coarse sand over the garden surface. Till or spade the material thoroughly into the top 8 to 10 inches of soil.
For more information on preparing your garden soil, access the UGA Extension publication, Gardening.
Billy Skaggs
Agricultural Agent
Hall County Extension Coordinator
734 East Crescent Drive
Gainesville, GA 30501
Phone:(770)531-6988
Fax: (770)531-3994
Email: [email protected]
Tuesday
August 5th, 2025
4:54AM
