3 types of soil and how they affect your garden

Did you know that there are 3 main types of soil? Each has its own characteristics and impacts your garden. We'll teach you how to identify the type you have and how to cultivate it for the best growth possible.

Clay soil is dense, heavy, and difficult to cultivate. Though this soil is often rich in nutrients, the lack of air in the clay prevents the nutrients from moving through the soil. To test for this soil type, perform a simple thread test:

1. Mix a small handful of soil with water.
2. Roll it between your hands to form a sausage shape.

If the mixture forms a smooth, slippery shape that can be bent easily without crumbling, it is said to be heavy and clay-like in texture. This soil needs work to properly support a garden. Here are some tips:

• To lift and aerate clay soil, add plenty of organic matter. Well-rotted animal manure is ideal for this purpose.
• To improve the soil further, include gypsum in the additive. This increases the permeability of the soil by aggregating the clay particles into small lumps.
• Clay soil suffers from surface compaction, which causes water run-off. This can be corrected by lightly cultivating the soil surface, then mulching with a generous layer of organic matter.

Sandy soil contains a high proportion of sand and lacks sufficient organic matter to retain moisture. It dries out rapidly after rain or watering, which causes nutrients to leach away faster than plants can absorb them. In the thread test (above) you will find it hard to form the sandy soil into a sausage shape and it will crumble easily. To correct the structure of light, sandy soils, add organic matter to improve their moisture-holding capabilities and nutrient content.

Average loam is neither too heavy nor too light in structure. This makes it the ideal soil for growing productive crops. The easy thread test should produce a neat sausage shape that can be bent a little, but crumbles when you try to bend it further. If you're blessed with this type of soil, enjoy it!

Whatever soil you have, it's important to care for it properly. Use these tips and your garden is sure to burgeon more fully than ever.