I have clay soil: northern edge of teh Potteries so it's very heavy and mixed with small coal lumps ( yes really: there was open cast mining in the fields above us- 200 years ago.)

Digging is a waste of time. I add layers of compost and leaf mulch and dig no more than 20 cms.. and plants in the mix.. After 20 odd years it's quite friable...

Still cracks in hot summers like 2 years ago: like 80cm deep, 0cm wide and 3 metres long!


Mulch like mad.. dig as little as possible. the worms do the digging...