Question
Hello Kenneth,

I live near Huntington, WV and my yard is totally made up of red clay.  Therefore it has been very hard to get grass, trees, flowers, etc to get a good root base going for them to grow properly. Although it seems like weeds have no problem at all.   I have a Japanese Maple that the previous owners of this property planted about 14 years ago and it is still only about 6 or 7 feet tall and has only grown a few inches in the 3 years that I've lived here. This is just one example. Would you have any advice on how I can get it to grow?  I have plans to plant several trees on the edge of my property line to make a privacy barrier but if they don't grow it will be a waste of time and money.

Other than tilling up the entire yard and putting down "Real" dirt topsoil, what can I do to help improve the yard so that things will grow better?   A friend told me something about using Lime, but I didn't understand how this would help. Any thoughts you have about this situation are appreciated.

Thanks.  

Answer
Clay can be very hard for plants to grow in. For large shade trees, maples etc, I recommend that you do not amend the soil, but just plant them in clay. Trees will eventually adjust. Have you tried to fertilize the tree ?
Also, I recommend mulching a 4 foot ring under the canopy of the tree, e.g. meassure 4 feet out from the trunk and fill the area with a 2-3" layer of shredded hardwood bark, etc.

To improve quality of soil for flowers, shrubs and smaller trees (arborvitea, smaller trees, etc) then consider adding a 3-4" layer of compost, organic topsoil, bagged gardensoil or other soil amendment (even peatmoss sphagnum) and thoroughly mix it into the top 12" of soil. This is really the only way to improve clay soil structures.

Lime will raise the pH in acidic soil. Liming may still be needed on lawns etc but it should be done in response to a soil test result. Generally do not lime without a soil test. Your local county extention office will usually provide soil tests free of charge or for a nominel fee.
Lime will raise pH to levels which allow plants to take up fertilizer trace nutrients. Too low pH can make certain elements unavailable to plants, but at too high pH (if limed too much or limed when no lime required) other elements become unavailable. Liming should not be used automatically without a soil test. It wont help loosen clay soil in any event.