Soil cracking

Causes

Clay shrinkage

Drought

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Cause

Clay shrinkage

Repair

  • clay soils are made up of very small particles. These soils swell when wet and shrink when dry, resulting in cracking. A quick short-term solution is to fill the cracks with additional soil
  • if the cracking is in a garden area, adding liberal quantities of organic mulch to the surface of the soil can improve soil condition and water retention over time, reducing the risk of cracking
  • gypsum soil conditioners are available that help to improve the texture of heavy clay soils, allowing easier transport of air/water/nutrients. They help with moisture retention in dry weather, reducing the risk of cracking. Soil conditioners are typically applied in spring and autumn. Proprietary products are available with additional ingredients to help improve soil quality and plant growth

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Cause

Drought

Repair

  • soil problems, including cracking, are typically the result of poor soil condition and inadequate water retention and drainage. Cracks that result from drought will typically disappear after a period of heavy rain
  • improving the condition of the soil over time will usually reduce the appearance of cracks during dry weather. This can be done by adding a layer of organic mulch to the soil as required or, with heavy soils, using a gypsum-based soil conditioner twice a year

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