I have a Sunquat and Mandarin Orange that have outgrown their (already pretty large) pots. We bought a new place, and I have lots of space to plant. However, the soil is clayey (and rocky, although I don't mind digging up a few rocks).

Should I try to till and amend the soil with organic matter before planting? Or will this do more harm than good? I don't think the clayey soil we have would be considered "well draining". But I don't want to care for them in pots any more.

Cheers,

Ed.

In most cases, adding material to improve drainage in the planting hole when the soil is clay, only increases the problem-- the hole becomes a pot without a drain hole which fills up with water and suffocates the roots.

Unless you have a hill such that you can provide drainage out of the bottom of the hole---don't improve the drainage in the planting hole.