What's "expanded shale" ?

What's "expanded shale" ?

Well, it's the opposite of contracted shale.



Thanks, smart a$$.;)


It's something you can add to the soil to help maintain air in the soil. Say you have a flood or a massive brain belch and forget to shut off the water, expanded shale will still maintain an air pocket of 30% that the plants' roots can draw needed air to keep from drowning...It's similar to vermiculite, except it starts off like rounded rock and keeps it's smooth round appearance, but it expands...

Kinda like the water absorbing crystals in reverse , huh ? Cool. How much is it ? Wouldn't it be just as effective to add more organic matter or sand ?

Ist time gardener, what do i plant and when,, small 4x 10' double 4x4 area.

But i do have good soil,, it is in a built up area pm me please

I have a huge problem with Johnson grass in my garden area. What do y'all suggest for control of this invasive species? Is there any pre-emergent that can be applied to aid in the prevention of Johnson grass?

Cubanelles are my favorite pepper. Sucks I didn't get many last year. I'm trying to start some of them from seeds, but of all the peppers I've tried, those are the most stubborn about sprouting.

Kinda like the water absorbing crystals in reverse , huh ? Cool. How much is it ? Wouldn't it be just as effective to add more organic matter or sand ?

I am expanding the garden this year, and needed something to break up this clay soil I have. I was at Ace Hardware the other day, and saw expanded shale in bags for sale, these bags were about the size of two loaves of bread, and they were over $6.00 apiece!!

I went to Living Earth in Lancaster, and asked the guy about sand to improve the drainage in clay soil, and he had a mixture that looks to be about 50/50 expanded shale/compost, for $50 a yard. That sounded a lot better to me. Yes, they will sell it in half yards, which makes it easier on my Dodge Dakota. (I think you actually get more than a yard when you buy it by the half yard, I think the bucket they used was 1 yard, and it was well over half full each time they loaded my truck.)
The info he has on it was written by a guy at the Dallas Arboretum, and recommends about a 4" depth of this mixture tilled into the clay. Ask me at the end of the year how it worked out, I just finished tilling it in.

Anybody ever used any of the Topsy Turvy carp? My kid has been bugging me the last few years to get one and the HEB in Burleson had Topsy Turvy Hot Pepper Planters clearanced out at $2 so I bought a couple. I am going to try putting some sugar snap peas in them for him.