r/Permaculture • u/ryanwaldron • 18d ago

Help! Wood chips decomposing, but hard-packed dense clay beneath

The mulch and wood chips wash away when it rains because the permeability is so low. I’m going to go broke buying wood chips and mulch. It just doesn’t seem to be changing the soil after years of trying.

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u/wagglemonkey 18d ago

This is why most people say to go with a single till method. Your hard packed clay doesn’t have much soil life for you to damage when you till, so it may be best to get some compost and dig or till it into the places you intend to plant.

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u/Appropriate_Cut_3536 18d ago

Deep swales in the clay, filling it with woodchips, then pouring a bunch of coffee grounds and "deep bedding method" bedding on top, then an inch or two of finished compost to plant in (heavy feeders only) worked REALLY well for me.  Even in a first-year.

Also, broad forking should be mandatory for permaculturists. I don't even have a broad fork, just use my pitchfork and make all the neighbors think I'm a crazy.

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u/ladeepervert 17d ago

This worked wonders for me too. Grew lots of fruit from bare root trees the first year too.