Loam

Classified as the ideal soil for most gardening requirements. A mixture of sand and clay, loam is a combination of large and small particles that makes it the lightest and easiest of soils to dig. Enriched with sufficient humus, loam is a fertile growing medium which, on the whole has good natural water holding qualities as well as having good drainage.

If it is crumbly and dark, but not gritty or smooth and shiny, your soil is loam.

Sandy

Sand based soil is very free draining, well aerated, warms quickly and light to work. It loses nutrients quickly as it holds very little moisture and humus content. Drains too freely and prone to erosion in bad weather.

If it is very gritty and pale brownish colour it is probably sandy.

Clay

Is usually rich in nutrients, retains water and has a tendency to get waterlogged, sticky in wet weather and become backed and cracked in hot dry summers.
It has poor drainage and it is heavy and hard to work.

If it polished and makes a shiny coating on your fingers and is greyish brown in colour it is probably clay.

Chalky

Considered to be the worst type, chalky soil is is easy to recognise–it is white, light, dry, stony and shallow. When dry it is light to work and warms easily because it is shallow, when it is wet it can become quote heavy and sticky.

If it is white, light, dry and stony it is probably chalky.

Loam

Not a problem simply add humus and plant food.

Clay

Slow to drain, heavy and difficult in wet weather and becomes very dry and cracks in hot weather improve by adding lime, humus and add Biogreen™ 6-in-1™ Potting & Garden Mix, or other organic matter dig or mix into the soil. Dig thoroughly and turn over often as possible.

Sandy

Drains very fast, loses nutrients and water quickly, add Biogreen™ 6-in-1™ Potting & Garden Mix, dig or mix into the soil, or other organic matter.

Chalky

Alkaline, waterlogged, lacks nutrients, add plant food and Biogreen™ 6-in-1™ Potting & Garden Mix or other organic matter. Dig or mix into the soil. Is not good for acid loving plants, examples camellias or rhododendrons.

How to Work with What You’ve Got

Working with what you have means selecting plants that are most suited to your soil type. Check the pH of the soil before buying plants – the healthiest plants will be those that suit the conditions. You can collect a pH soil kit from most nurseries to carry out a test.

How to Change the Soil Structure

The ideal soil type has a good open structure and a texture that is crumbly but not dusty
As we cannot change the soil type completely it is possible to help it become much more balanced.

Improving Soil Quality

Regular digging, improving drainage and adding plenty of organic matter will help the soil’s fertility. The reasons for improving a soil’s texture are plants are in soil that warms up, provides good nutritional base and drains properly.

Drainage & Minerals

Fertile soil is well drained aerated, rich in organic matter and full of key minerals, which are known as (N), (P) & (K).

Nitrogen (N) – promotes growth of the parts that are green in the plant.

Phosphorous (P) – helps develop the root structure of the plant.

Potassium (K) - stimulates fruit and flower development.

Trace Elements.

Other key elements include magnesium, sulphur, calcium, iron. Manganese, boron, zinc, and copper, these are all necessary to ensure healthy and beautiful plants.

Soluble and Controlled Release fertilisers generally contain adequate minerals to feed the plants, these are available from the garden supply stores.

Plants require regular balanced does of nutritious food. Getting the food right is only part of it. Giving the plants a good start in the right soil or compost is very important. Many nutritional supplements are readily available and are convenient to boost the food, which is available to plants. These will indicate how much N, P AND K is contained by showing them proportionally eg.6: 6:6

There is a wide selection of specially formulated plant foods available. Simple, easy and safe to use. They come in different forms, such as concentrated liquid, granular and soluble types