SHREVEPORT, La. - At Akin’s Nursery in Shreveport, owner Jennifer McGimsey says one of the biggest challenges local gardeners face is right under their feet: Northwest Louisiana’s heavy clay soil.

As any avid gardener knows, having the right soil in your garden is one of the most important steps in achieving healthy plant growth. Unfortunately, homeowners with heavy clay soil in their yards ...

If you’ve ever tried to grow a lush lawn in clay soil, you know it’s not the most forgiving terrain. This soil type is dense, tends to retain water, and can quickly compact, which makes it a challenge ...

Clay soil can cause problems for gardeners, but it isn’t all bad. It retains moisture and nutrients. However, "good" moisture retention can be a problem. Clay soil drains slowly. Clay soil tends to ...

Clay soil can present several challenges to gardeners due to its density. One way to amend compacted clay soil is with a ...

As May ushers in summer, the garden fills with peonies, roses and daylilies. If you are gardening on heavy clay soil, it also may fill up with buttercups and horsetail. Lustrous buttercups hold up ...

Add as much organic material to your heavy clay soil as possible to help it return to its native state. Then you’ll have a better chance to grow healthy, lovely plants such as these SunPatiens. Adele ...

There are some misconceptions surrounding how we deal with soil when gardening, and I thought I’d discuss a few in this week’s column: to add, or not to use, gypsum; dealing with dense clay; and ...

Colorful peonies are a beautiful addition to any garden. Luckily, it's not difficult to successfully grow peonies in order to enjoy their stunning blooms. There's a special soil tip you can use to ...

Soil in the Kansas City area is helped by adding compost, as in its natural state, it’s heavy with clay. Johnson County Extension Many people view soil as inert and barren instead of teeming with life ...