SOIL

Hello Lynnes
Have a look at my blog on Soil Preparation.
Hope this helps
Best Wishes
Kev

Dig your soil in the late autumn if you can and leave it for the frost to break up the clods. Then you will need to add as much organic matter as possible, home-made compost, well-rotted manure and also horticultural grit to 'open up' the soiland improve the drainage . Every time you plant anything, be it a shrub or a plant, dig the hole a bit bigger than necessary and back fill with compost as you plant. In time, you will find that your soil becomes easier to work. Good luck. Clay is not easy, I know, but some plants (roses for instance) thrive on it!

Be thankful you've got it! I'd prefer my heavy soil to any of the stuff that my garden visitors complain about around London. Sure heavy soil has it's disadvantages - but they can be easily improved upon. But it's highly nutritious and great for most herbaceous plants. Londoners to my garden can hardly believe their eyes when they see heleniums 8ft high!

I've been doing what 'spritzhenry' is saying for 10 years and I've written more on my huge web site.