Gardening can be pretty challenging at times, especially when you have so many different elements to deal with. Regardless of having the perfect mesh of other elements, choosing the wrong type of soil can make it impossible to grow plants as it can wreak havoc on plants, preventing them from getting the nutrients, moisture, and sunlight they need to thrive.
Before choosing soil for your yard, it is imperative to gain a comprehensive understanding of the different soil types. Soil classifications are typically based on the size, texture, and mineral and nutrient content of the particles that make up the soil. Moreover, the soil type in your yard is also influenced by factors such as rainfall and organic mineral content. Knowing and understanding these factors can help you balance your existing soil by changing its moisture retention, pH levels, or other factors to create a more favorable environment to grow your plants.
That said, here is a list of the most popular types of soil you should know about.
Loam
Loamy soil is hands-down the best type of soil gardening. You can grow almost any type of plant in loam without having to make significant additions or moderations to the soil. Loam maintains its shape when compressed or squeeze and only slightly crumbles when under pressure, which is a prominent indicator that loam isn’t overly loose or dense.
Loam is typically made of equal parts of sand, silt, and clay that give it all its best qualities and maybe a few drawbacks. Loam’s sand content keeps it open, allowing sunlight, air, and moisture to pass through, while the silt and clay content slows down drainage and evaporation, ensuring nutrient and water retention for longer.
Loamy soil warms up early in spring, doesn’t dry out in summer, and drains impeccably in heavy rain, making it the ideal soil type for year-round planting. Although the makeup of loamy soils is already great, you can balance it further by using additives, such as mulch or compost.
Clay
As one of the small natural soil particles, clay packs quite tightly together with very little air space. This lack of air space coupled with its high level of compaction makes clay the densest and heaviest soil type. Due to its high density, clay can easily retain large amounts of nutrients and water. However, at the same time, its high density makes it challenges for air and moisture to pass through the soil.
Unlike loam, clay soil only performs well under certain conditions. Dry clay is soft and smooth, while wet clay is heavy and very hard to work with. So, when you’re using clay, you must plant your plants or flowers in autumn or spring and avoid working on days when the clay soil is overly wet. The best plants for clay soil include bright flowers that require high moisture levels, such as perennials, wisteria, and rhododendrons.
