Since most of the area in question will be a lawn, I know it can be top dressed, but are there good amendments that can be added prior to planting the lawn that can, at least someone, add a better permanent structure to the soil?

I'm thinking regular sand, or maybe greensand, would do the trick if added ALONG WITH ORGANIC MATTER...and still doing a top dressing of OM each season.

Am I missing anything? What are some good inorganic but natural (rock based?) amendments to keep clay soil breathing and livable?

But to answer your question: gypsum. The Ca++ draws clay particles together in larger aggregates, making it act more like a soil with larger particles. If the pH is low, lime will do the same thing while correcting pH. Gypsum is pH neutral.

for us with clay it is gypsum and oodles of it and lots of mulching there after, as well as we tuck all our kitchen rottable waste under the mulch, even add composting worms if you wish.

len

Any truth to this?

I've read Gypsum is over-hyped in non-arid climates (which I am in, we're in the Mid-Atlantic). well, it's arid THIS year...but not normally.

Only professional soil teat can determine if sodium is excessive.

How much of your OM needs can be met by simply leaving lawn clippings lie, and perhaps by using a mulching mower in fall for the leaves instead of raking?

We finally have a winner!

That is really all you have to do. Adding extra compost as a top dressing won't hurt, but removing the bagger will do an awful lot of what you are trying to do.

Also, if you don't already, put the mower blades as high as they will go. Longer grass = longer roots, better soil coverage, less weeds, less mowing, and a host of other good things.

gypsum

must say i have used for over a decade and agree with the link, could not garden without it, but i can garden with out all the negative science, which is science.

note the dust storm behind the tractor pretty typical of the broadacre farmer.

len