Soil is arguably the most important part of your garden. With healthy soil, you will get healthy plants, and with poor soil, your plants will struggle to thrive.
The type of soil you have will determine the kind of plants you can grow in it. While a lot of plants are very adaptable, if you grow plants suited to the conditions in your garden, they will always find it easier to thrive.
In this guide, we will discuss the different types of soil and which works best for each plant variety, ensuring your fruit plants, vegetable seeds and flower seeds get the best quality soil.
How Many Different Types of Soil Are There?
There are six main soil types: sand, silt, clay, chalk, peat and loam. The soil type depends on how the soil formed and on the bedrock beneath it. Most soils are somewhere on the spectrum between one or more of these soil types.
How to Tell What Type of Soil You Have
We all know how annoying it is when heavy clay sticks to our boots, or the frustration of continually watering on sandy soils. However, it's important to understand your soil type, as this can help you care for it best and choose which plants to grow. Thankfully, it is easy to determine which kind of soil you have, so you can decide how best to treat it and what will grow well.
The Squeeze Test
You can test whether you have sand, silt or clay soil by doing a simple squeeze test. To carry out this test, simply dig a small hole in your garden and take out a handful of soil from an inch or so below the surface. Take it in your hand and give it a squeeze.
- Sandy soil will not easily form a shape, and if squeezed will fall apart.
- Silt soil feels smoother than sandy soil and doesn’t hold a shape easily.
- Clay soil is easy to mould, and when squeezed can hold its shape.
The Water Test
Another way to test your soil is to take a sample, as you would with the squeeze test, add it to a glass jar, then fill the jar with clean water. Tighten the lid and give it a good shake, then leave it somewhere flat to settle for 10 to 15 minutes.
When you return to your jar, you will see that the soil sediments have separated. The sand particles will be on the bottom, silt in the middle and clay on top. Then there will be some murky water, and floating on top of that will be your organic matter. This is an easy, very visual way to see what your soil is made up of.
Understanding Your Soil: What to Plant and How to Prep
Clay soil: Clay soil is heavy, holds moisture well and takes a long time to warm up in spring. Prepare by adding a layer of mulch on top of the soil, which helps to break up clay and provides a finer surface for sowing. Then cover with cloches or fleece if you want to make early sowings. Choose plants that can tolerate moist soils and don’t require good drainage. Clay is excellent for “hungry” plants like Roses and Hydrangeas.
Sandy Soil
Sandy soil is free-draining, so it dries out quickly; it is usually low in nutrients and slightly acidic. Adding a layer of mulch helps sandy soil to retain moisture more effectively and adds nutrients. Choose plants that enjoy free-draining soil and make sure to water regularly during dry spells. You may even want to add a second layer of mulch around the base of your plants at the start of the summer to help with moisture retention. Sandy soil is great for Blueberries and Carrots.
Silty Soil
Silt soil has a smooth, fine texture and holds moisture better than sandy soil, while still allowing reasonable drainage. It is generally fertile and nutrient-rich, but can become compacted or waterlogged if not managed carefully. Adding mulch improves soil structure, helping prevent compaction. Choose plants that prefer consistently moist, well-drained soil, and avoid overwatering. Plants such as tomatoes and potatoes particularly like silty soil.
Chalk
Chalk soil is free-draining, often shallow and stony, and typically alkaline and low in organic matter. Mulching helps improve moisture retention and soil structure. Choose plants that tolerate alkaline conditions and free-draining soil, and water during prolonged dry periods, especially as plants become established. Choose plants that like alkaline soil and good drainage.
Loam
Loam is the holy grail of soils as it has a good balance of sand, silt and clay, with a lot of organic matter. This provides good drainage while allowing it to retain moisture. It has plenty of nutrients and a neutral pH. Most plants will thrive in loam, except for those that have adapted to live in particularly wet, dry or acidic conditions. Aromatic herbs like Rosemary, Lavender and Thyme often thrive in chalky soils.
The pH Factor: Why it Matters
The pH of your soil matters because it directly affects your plant’s ability to get nutrients from the soil. In very acidic or very alkaline soils, some nutrients can become “locked up”, meaning our plants can’t access them even when they’re present. Some plants have preferences for specific soil pH levels. Blueberries, for example, prefer slightly acidic soil, while many brassicas favour slightly alkaline soil.
Therefore, it is important to know your soil's pH so you can choose which plants will grow best in your garden.
General Soil Preparation Tips
There is one thing that all expert horticulturalists agree on: Organic matter is the cure for everything. You may have noticed that we recommend a layer of mulch regardless of your soil type. This is because adding mulch will increase the organic matter content of your soil, helping to improve soil structure, moisture retention, drainage, and add nutrients.
If you’re sowing seeds into your beds, make sure to use a fine-textured mulch, or sieve it for best results. If you’re planting seedlings or plants into your soil, make sure that you dig a hole around twice the size of the root ball and add a little compost into the hole to ensure healthy root growth.
To build good soil structure, you should avoid digging over your beds in spring, as this can break down organic matter and increase the risk of compaction throughout the growing season.
Choosing the Right Soil for Your Garden
Healthy soil is the key to a healthy garden, and this can be achieved with good soil care. Choosing the right plants for the soil that you have can help to ensure your plants thrive naturally.
Don’t forget to order your compost or manure from D.T. Brown for the highest quality and fast UK delivery.
