Editing Ultisol (section)

=== Possible solutions ===
Generally, gardeners aim to have 45% mineral, 5% organic matter and 50% pore space in their soil.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www4.ncsu.edu/~djgofort/Miscellaneous15.htm|title=Dealing With Red Clay|website=www4.ncsu.edu|access-date=2018-04-14|archive-date=2018-04-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406184233/http://www4.ncsu.edu/~djgofort/Miscellaneous15.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The composition of Ultisol in North Carolina, for reference, is approximately 16% pore space, 2% organic matter and 82% mineral.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www4.ncsu.edu/~djgofort/Miscellaneous15.htm|title=Dealing With Red Clay|website=www4.ncsu.edu|access-date=2018-04-14|archive-date=2018-04-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406184233/http://www4.ncsu.edu/~djgofort/Miscellaneous15.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The use of mulch is widespread in the [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont]] region of the United States as a solution to the high temperatures and saturation of the soil.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.caes.uga.edu/newswire/story.html?storyid=3722&story=Georgia-gardening-101|title=Tips on gardening for Georgia newcomers|access-date=2018-04-10|language=en}}</ref> The addition of mulch helps to make the soil more porous.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/1310/|title=Improving Clay Soil – Garden.org|website=garden.org|language=en|access-date=2018-04-14}}</ref>

Adding [[manure]] and [[compost]] can help boost the amount of organic material present in the soil, which in turn helps add essential [[Plant nutrition|nutrients]]. Specifically, adding a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost and manure should be mixed into the soil to match a shovel's depth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/1310/|title=Improving Clay Soil – Garden.org|website=garden.org|language=en|access-date=2018-04-14}}</ref>  The addition of organic material also helps to improve the drainage, while decreasing the overall weight of the soil.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/1310/|title=Improving Clay Soil – Garden.org|website=garden.org|language=en|access-date=2018-04-14}}</ref>
[[File:Raised bed (30827889786).jpg|thumb|A garden planted in a raised bed]]
However, microorganisms in the soil consume the same nutrients that plants use to grow so certain nutrients will remain unavailable to plants until the microorganisms completely break down the organic material and release nutrients.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/how-improve-clay-soil|title=How to improve clay soil {{!}} Oregon State University Extension Service {{!}} Gardening|website=extension.oregonstate.edu|date=28 February 2003 |language=en|access-date=2018-04-14}}</ref> Living organisms within the soil use, and subsequently convert, organic material into usable [[humus]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/how-improve-clay-soil|title=How to improve clay soil {{!}} Oregon State University Extension Service {{!}} Gardening|website=extension.oregonstate.edu|date=28 February 2003 |language=en|access-date=2018-04-14}}</ref> To avoid the delay presented by this process, adding manure in the fall is advisable.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/how-improve-clay-soil|title=How to improve clay soil {{!}} Oregon State University Extension Service {{!}} Gardening|website=extension.oregonstate.edu|date=28 February 2003 |language=en|access-date=2018-04-14}}</ref> 

Some gardeners who live in areas with large amounts of red clay soil use [[Raised-bed gardening|raised beds]] or [[Hügelkultur]] to avoid having to amend the soil.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/Portals/0/Gardening/Gardening%20Help/Factsheets/Clay%20Soils%20-%20Annuals5.pdf|title=Best Plants for Problem Clay Soils: Annuals, Bulbs, Needled Evergreens, Ornamental Grasses|last=Kemper|first=William|publisher=Missouri Botanical Gardens}}</ref> By using raised beds, gardeners avoid having to deal with Ultisols altogether.