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Clay soil is actually excellent for construction when used to make cob. Cob homes can be very inexpensive to build and require few tools. Cob homes generally have an R 30-50 insulation rating, and many like the ones in the north of Wales where it is very wet and moist have stood for hundreds of years. Because cob is not a dimensional material, very interesting homes can be constructed with curved walls and nooks, shelves, beds, benches, cob ovens, rocket stoves, etc. built right into the home. Cob is a mix of clay soil, sand, and straw and there are some very nice modern homes built with cob.

However, you would not want to set a foundation into expandable soils like clay without special consideration. When expandable soils like clay get wet they will expand. Standing a foundation on it can result in cracks where the clay has expanded and pushed the foundation up or in. Expanding soil like clay can exert several thousands of pounds of pressure upwards or outwards when it gets moist and expands.

When mixed properly, cob will not shrink or expand much because of the sand.

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12y ago
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13y ago

If the roots cant penetrate the clay it can't grow plus not enough water drains

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Q: Why is clay not a good soil type to grow plants?
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Related questions

Does plant grow better in potting soil or sandy soil?

Beans grow better in soil because soil has all the moisture and nutrients. If you use sand, it could be to rocky. Clay will also not be good even though it can keep good moisture it does not have the nutrients like soil.


Do plants grow better in soil or clay?

soil as there are more nutrients


What type of soil do plants not grow well in?

Very few plants will grow in heavy clay soil and not many will grow in sand. Plants need organic material in the soil to enable the roots to penetrate and to nourish the plants, so the more humus soil contains, the better most plants will grow. Plants also do not thrive in very acid or highly alkaline soil. Most plants prefer neutral or slightly acid pH. Sne45: I think clay-like soil, nor do I think plants in sand can grow.


Do plants grow better in sand clay or potting soil?

sand and potting soil


What type of soil makes plants grow faster?

The type of soil that makes plants grow faster is known as loam soil. Sandy and clay soil lack the capability of supporting proper growth of plants.


Which soil work best?

Miracle grow works well for indoor and outdoor plants. However, it's a good idea to add equal part per lite and miracle grow for indoor plants. The worst soil would be clay and sand that soil doesn't have growing goods that plants need to grow


What kind of soil makes plants grow faster?

The kind of soil that makes plants grow faster is known as loam soil. Sandy and clay soil do not promote proper development and growth of plants as they lack essential nutrients for the growth of plants.


What media would plants grow better in clay top soil compost or gravel?

Top soil.


What plants can be grown in red soil?

If the soil is red, it could be clay, which is not too hospitable to growing plants. If you want to plant in clay, you can follow the advice, below, to amend the soil. Then you may be able to grow plants that thrive in your climate.


Which type of soil do bean plants grow the best in?

in clay soil or wet soil has diameter of 0.22mm to 0.66mm


Why does clay alone make poor soil for growing?

Some types of plants can survive in clay soil but most like a softer soil in order for roots to breath and grow properly.


Why do plants need good soil to grow?

so they can get the minerals from the soil that they need to grow