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Soil Evaluation

Video, Lawn and Garden, Soil & Fertilizer Published 06/23/2006 by Danny Lipford

The fist step to getting the soil in your garden right is figuring out what you have. There are three types of soil: clay, sand and loam. Clay is comprised of very fine particles that pack together very tightly allowing very little water to drain out and making it difficult for roots to dig in. If you squeeze this soil in your fist it will create a hard sticky ball. To modify it, add organic material that will loosen the particles up and add nutrients to the soil (humus for example.) Sand is very loose and granular so it holds little water and few nutrients. It will sift right through your hands when you try to compress it. Sand needs organic material that will help it absorb moisture and contribute nutrients (compost should do the trick.) Loam is the gardener’s dream soil because it is the perfect blend of sand, clay and organic matter. It is typically dark in color and will compress but not form a hard mass. For good measure you can still add organic material to boost the nutrient levels.