Everything You Need to Know About Soil
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Everything You Need to Know About Soil
Six Types of Soil
There are 6 main soil groups: sandy, clay, silty, peaty, chalky, and loamy. Each of these soil types have different properties and work differently with certain plants. When choosing what you want to plant in your garden, it is important to determine what kind of soil you have.
Everything You Need to Know About Soil
by ARIANA MARISOL
The health or your soil determines the health of you crops. Learn how to make the most of your soil type!
Six Types of Soil
There are 6 main soil groups: sandy, clay, silty, peaty, chalky, and loamy. Each of these soil types have different properties and work differently with certain plants. When choosing what you want to plant in your garden, it is important to determine what kind of soil you have.
Clay Soil
Clay soil is lumpy and sticky when wet and it becomes rock hard when dry. Clay soil is dense and does not drain well. It has very few air spaces and it is heavy to cultivate. Clay soil also warms up very slowly in the spring because of its density. Since it is rich with nutrients, plants will grow well if the drainage of the soil is enhanced.
Perennials and shrubs grow well in clay soil. Some examples of plants you can grow are Aster, Bergamot, Flowering quince, and Helen’s Flower. Fruit trees, ornamental trees and shrubs do very well in this soil. Summer crop vegetables will also have a high yield if grown in clay soil. It can be difficult to grow early vegetable crops and soft berry crops because of the soil’s cool, compact nature.
Sandy Soil
Sandy soil is very gritty. This soil drains easily but also dries out very quickly. It is easy to cultivate and warms up quickly in the spring. Because of its ability to drain so fast, this soil tends to hold less nutrients than other soils. Sandy soil normally requires organic additions such as kelp meal, greensand, or other organic fertilizer blends.
This type of soil is wonderful for shrubs, and bulbs such as Tree mallow, Sun roses, Tulips, and Hibiscus. Carrots, parsnips, potatoes, and other vegetable root crops enjoy sandy soil as well. Some crops that are commercially grown in sandy soils include lettuce, strawberries, peppers, corn, squash, zucchini, collard greens, and tomatoes.
Silty Soil
Silty soil is soft and soapy. It holds moisture and is usually very rich in nutrients. This soil can be easily cultivated and it can be compacted with minimal effort. It is wonderful for your garden if drainage is properly managed. You can improve the drainage and structure of your soil by adding composted organic matter.
Shrubs, climbers, grasses and perennials love silty soil. Trees such as Willow, Birch, Dogwood, and Cypress love moisture and do well in this type of soil as well. If your soil has adequate drainage, most vegetables and fruit crops will thrive in it.
Peaty Soil
Peaty soil is damp and spongy. Because the soil is so acidic, it slows down decomposition which can lead to fewer nutrients within the soil. It heats up quickly during the spring season and can retain a lot of water. You may need to dig drainage channels in order to provide proper drainage. If blended with rich organic matter, peat soil can be great for growth.
Shrubs like Lantern Trees, Witch Hazel, Heather, Camelia, and Rhododendron grow well in peaty soil. Brassicas, legumes, root crops, and salad crops also flourish in this soil if it is well-drained.
Chalky Soil
Chalky soil is stonier when compared to other soils. It is free draining and normally found on top of chalk or limestone. This soil is alkaline which can lead to stunted growth in some plants. You can resolve this by using the appropriate fertilizers and balancing the pH. You can also add hummus to improve water retention.
This type of soil is good for trees, bulbs, and shrubs such as Lilac, Madonna lilies, Mock Oranges, Pinks, and Weigla. Vegetables such as beets, sweet corn, and spinach also do well with this soil.
Loamy Soil
Loamy soil is a mix of sand, silt, and clay. It is fine textured and slightly damp. This soil is ideal for gardening because of its great structure. It is full of nutrients and can easily be cultivated. This soil will warm up in spring, while also not drying out in the summer. Loamy soil tends to be acidic and should be replenished with organic matter regularly.
This soil is great for bamboos, climbers, shrubs, perennials, and tubers like Wisteria, Dog’s-tooth violets, Black Bamboo, Rubus, and Delphinium. Most vegetable crops and berry crops do well in loamy soil because it’s structural and nutritional properties are very high. Even though it is a good soil, loamy soil still requires careful management to prevent depletion and drying out. You can keep your soil healthy by rotating crops, planting green manure crops, using mulches and by adding compost and organic nutrients to your soil to help retain its vitality.
Determine Your Soil Type
Water Test
Pour water on your soil and see how quickly it drains. If it drains quickly it is probably sandy or gravelly soil. If the water takes longer to sink in, you may have clay soil.
Squeeze Test
Scoop up a handful of soil and hold it in your fist.
If the soil remains intact when you let it go and if it is sticky and slick to the touch, it is clay soil.
If the soil feels spongy, it is peaty soil.
If the soil is gritty and falls apart easily, it is sandy soil.
Loamy and silty soil will feel smooth to the touch and retain its shape for a small amount of time when let go.
Settle Test
Put some soil in a transparent container and add water. Shake well and leave it to settle for about 12 hours.
If you are using sandy soil, the water will be left mostly clear with a layer of particles on the base of the container.
Water will be cloudy with a layer of particles at the bottom with clay and silty soils.
Chalky soils will leave a layer of whitish fragments on the bottom of the container and the water will be a light grey color.
Water that is left relatively clear with layered particles on the bottom of the container and finer particles at the top have loamy soil.
If you are using peaty soil, you will see many particles floating on the surface and the water will be slightly cloudy with a thin layer at the bottom.
Acid Test
Most standard pH levels in soils range between 4 and 8.5. Plants normally do best in soils that have a pH level between 6.5 and 7 because nutrients are able to easily thrive in these levels. You can buy a pH test kit online or at your local gardening store. Areas that have soft water will most likely have acidic soil, whereas areas with hard water normally have alkaline soil.
Soil Test Kit
You can use a soil test kit to learn about pH levels and which nutrients (N-P-K) are already in your soil. By doing this, you can learn about which fertilizer will be the most effective. Be sure to test your soil throughout the growing season because nutrients within your soil will change depending on what you are growing and what organic matter you may be using.
Make the Most of Your Soil
Although plants generally prefer neutral soil, there are some that flourish in slightly acidic or alkaline soils. It is possible to slightly adjust the pH level of your soil to make it healthier for your crops. Although you can adjust the levels of your soil, it is only a temporary fix, so be sure to make the most of your soil type.
If you want your soil to be more alkaline, you can add lime. If you add aluminum sulfate or sulfur to your soil, it will become more acidic.
If you have sandy soil or soil that is low in nutrients, add organic matter such as compost and manure to increase nutrient content. You can also use organic mulches like straw, dried grass clippings, and deciduous leaves. These mulches are able to break down into the soil and build a new supply of organic nutrients while also improving the soil structure.
Clay soil often does not have enough aeration and lacks good structure. You can get the most out of this soil by adding well-rotted organic matter in the fall and peat a few weeks before planting. Greensand can also be used to loosen up clay soils, or to bind sandy soils.
Chalky soil is often difficult to cultivate because of its alkaline nature. You can improve your soil by adding bulky organic matter that breaks down over time, while also adding nutrients and minerals to your soil.
Healthy Soil
Soil is extremely important when trying to grow food. It is important to treat your soil as if it were a living plant. It needs water, food, and care. Be sure that your soil contains Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK) because these are vital to the health of growing plants. You can add these nutrients by adding fertilizers and organic matter.
Once a crop is harvested, the soil should be renewed before planting another crop. You can do this by planting ‘green manure’ crops like legumes, buckwheat, vetch, and clover because these crops fix nitrogen into the soil while also building texture, improving aeration and drainage, and adding organic matter. These cover crops break down quickly and help your soil regain the nutrients it may have lost.
The standard for restoring soil is by using crop rotation, green manures, cover crops, mulch, and the periodic addition of organic materials such as compost and fertilizer. Rock phosphate, or rock dust, is also a great amendment that can restore phosphorus levels needed for healthy plant growth.
The introduction of living organisms into your soil is also very helpful. The fungus Mycorrhizae will help your plants absorb water. Nutrients and worms can help speed up the composting process and help spread fertilizer through the soil.
Healthy soil means healthy, happy crops! In the beginning the process of taking care of your soil may seem daunting, but you will soon learn that it is a great way to keep a flourishing garden.
http://www.realfarmacy.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-soil/
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