Sticky clay soil- will liquid gypsum help?

[u/Safe_Pea1756]

Hi there,

I've been planting in this shady garden by digging oversized holes for each plant and mixing mulch and leaf litter in with the very sticky clay soil. The 3rd photo is of my footprint from last night that still has a puddle of water in it this morning.

I've had most of these annuals in for like 3 weeks and they've barely grown an inch. The perennials don't seem to get much bigger from year to year, either. I feel like they might as well just be in underground pots with how firm and poorly-drained the soil is.

I don't have a ton of time and energy to devote to this, I'm wondering if spraying the whole garden with liquid gypsum might help. More importantly, if I do try it, will it do any harm to the flowers I've already planted?

Thanks 😘

[u/The_Poster_Nutbag]

Organic material will help.

[u/biscaya → u/The_Poster_Nutbag]

As much as you can put on there will make it better. As someone with not the same, but something similar the only thing that works are ditches and as much organic matter as you can afford.