Clay soils have fine particles that do not allow air or water to penetrate easily. They can be rock hard when dry and slippery when wet. Clay consists of a fair amount of organic material, but it does not lend itself to plants or grasses that don't tolerate poor drainage. Break up clay soils with organic material; special types of clay may require treatment with gypsum.
Saving the Lawn
The key to breaking up clay is working material into the soil. Topical treatments have a moderate effect by percolating into the clay. The problem is clay soils are sometimes impervious to water and air. A first step is aerating the lawn. This is done by rolling a drum with spikes that pull out plugs of clay.
Clay naturally occurs beneath healthy topsoil, and if the lawn is already growing, you can add the topsoil a little bit at a time with a broadcast spreader. The grass will grow up through the topsoil, and then you can add more for as long as you like. You can build a layer of topsoil over a period of months without disturbing your present lawn.
Compost and Manure
For gardens and new lawns, it might be a good idea to till as deep as possible and add organic fertilizer such as compost or manure. Good compost and leached, cured manure are excellent for working into clay soils.
Another option is to plant a sacrificial crop that will grow readily in clay. After it has matured but not gone to seed, till it into the clay. This is called "green" manure and is an excellent way to get organic material into the clay soil. After the first crop is gone, plant your grass seed. Sweet clover and timothy grass are among crops that can be used. Heavy clay soils may require repeated plantings.
Thatching and Mulching
If you apply compost or manure over a growing lawn, microbes will break down the thatch into topsoil---so you don't need to thatch the lawn at all. Mulching lawn clippings and leaves will have the same effect---helping to build a layer of good topsoil over the clay.
Special clay soils known as sodic soils have high sodium content. If your soil tests as sodic, you can use gypsum to help break down the clay into usable topsoil.
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