I am experiencing a similar situation to that of this caller to my show last Saturday. Though my landscape contractors left me with a better fill dirt atop my new retaining wall, I warned Melissa here of an important thing. Don’t leave that bare dirt exposed for too long. It will compact and erode, so the sooner there’s pine straw, mulch, mulched leaves or even a groundcover on it, the better. These can all serve as temporary things until the area is ready to be planted.

If time or cost is a factor, embrace the clay and plant acid-loving plants like azaleas and camellias. Many ornamental grasses will tolerate our soil as well. Of course, break up that clay when back-filling the hole around the plant.

Clint Waltz, Turfgrass Specialist with UGA, advised me to tell her organic materials are best to mix into the soil when amending it or changing its composition. Compost is best, and work it into the top three to four inches.

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