What in the world do you do with that Georgia Clay?  You turn it into top soil using what mother nature gives you.  The best organic way to do this without a lot of expensive fertilizer and equipment is by using compost.  Plants need a few things to flourish.  They require water, nutrients, carbon dioxide, sunlight and some type of sub-straight (soil) to facilitate the plant and root system.

Compost provides nutrients, conserves water, enhances the sub-straight and slowly produces carbon dioxide.  That’s right compost.  Compost is digested plant material.  When mixed with soil, it gives the soil nutrients that plants need to grow.  Those nutrients are not only plentiful, but mechanically and chemically broken down so they are readily absorbed by the root system.  With the additions of a little sweat equity, compost is virtually free.

What is an easy way to make a compost pile?  First, find a piece of wire mesh that is from 3-5-foot-wide that can be used for walls.  Make a circular wall about 3 to 6 ft in diameter and tie the mesh to itself making a large open top container or bin. Place the mesh bin near an easy source of water and make sure it is easily accessible from all sides.  Do not place the bin next to the house or any structure that would not like bugs.  Compost loves bugs. 

As you collect yard debris, add the debris to the bin, breaking up small limbs and twigs as small as possible. Use an assortment of materials and be sure not to use a majority of pine straw.  Hardwood leaves and grass clippings are great.  Even catching material in the lawn mower bagger and adding it to the bin is good.  Avoid using grass clippings full of seeds.  Good items from the kitchen are egg shells, coffee grounds, any plant-based food and any indoor plant trimmings.  Do not use animal fat, grease or oil.  After about one foot of material has accumulated, throw a handful of regular fertilizer like 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 on the pile to accelerate the breakdown.  Spread it evenly over the material.  Continue doing this in one-foot layers until you reach the top.

From time to time, stir the material with a hoe, rake, pitch fork or shovel.  Keep the material moist and this will accelerate the process.  Do not keep the material soaking wet or it will leach out the nutrients you are trying to keep.  Digesting plant material is really a slow burn or oxidation without the smoke and pollution burning crate.

Composing accomplishes several things at one time.  It breaks down the organic material so elements, compounds and minerals can be absorbed by roots.  It transforms material into a soft water absorbing material that allows roots to penetrate.  When mixed with soil it separates the particles of sand, clay and rock-hard solids allowing air, water and roots can meander through the sub-straight.  The breakdown also generates seed killing heat reducing weeds.  Let the material slow cook for about a year so the process has time to complete.

The work is not over yet.  Compost must be mixed in the soil for the plants to utilize the nutrients.  It can be placed on top, but this is most inefficient.  Place the compost where you want it, then take a shovel, hoe, tiller or other dirt mixing tool to work it into the soil.  This breaks up the soil for easy root growth, evenly spreads the compost throughout the root growing area, allows water to deep penetrate the soil, holds the water in place for the plants to absorb and keeps the weather from washing or blowing away all your hard work.