What Makes Soil Types Different?
There are several different types of soil in the gardens around the world. Simply trying to grow your plants in whatever soil you may have in your yard often will not work. Different soil types are better suited for different plants and having an understanding of the soil needs of what you wish to grow ahead of time can save you time and money. The biggest difference in soil types is the size of the particles they are made up of, how much water they retain and the nutrients and minerals they have. Does this Spark an idea?
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Clay
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Clay soil has a pretty undesirable reputation. The tiny particles it contains glue together when wet causing poor water drainage and making it difficult for roots to develop. On the plus side, clay soil stores nutrients and minerals well and some plants thrive on its ability to hold on to water. Asters, cosmos, peas and cabbages can be grown in clay soil.
Sand
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Sandy soil drains quickly because it is usually made up of a grainy texture including rock and mineral particles. Because of its composition, sandy soils heat up fast and are good for early crops. On the other hand, the fact that sandy soil drains so quickly means it may need more frequent watering and fertilizing. It is also a good choice for plants that don't require too much water like succulents and cacti.
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Loam
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Loam is often said to be ideal soil. It is made up of a combination of clay, sand and silt, providing most of the benefits of the three types of soil and very little of their negative qualities, if any at all. It holds nutrients well, drains well and warms up well. Some loam soils are considered sandy-loam or clay-loam, based on the proportion of its contents. In any case, most plants grow quite well in loam.
Silt
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Silt is high in nutrients and is very fertile soil. Because of its fine particles, silt retains moisture, but drains faster than clay, making it a good quality soil to have in the garden. There are many plants that grow well in silt soil. Due to its water-retaining abilities, if it becomes too compact you can add some organic material to improve it.
Chalk
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Chalk is considered poor quality soil. It dries out quickly and doesn't contain the minerals that make most plants grow healthy. Most plants grown in chalky soils develop chlorosis, which causes them to turn yellow and stunts their growth. It tends to have an abundance of stones in it and is alkaline based. Chalky soils need plenty of improvement to grow most things, however spindle bush and butterfly bush are a couple of the plants that can grow in chalk soil.
Peat
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Peat soil also lacks in nutrients. It is made up of mainly organic material, but its high acidic level makes it difficult for the organic material to properly decompose. It holds onto water and has a sponge-like texture. It can be improved with fertilizer, but witch hazel and heather can handle peat soil.
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- Photo Credit outdoors image by FJ Medrano from Fotolia.com
