Understanding the different types of soil is essential if you want to create the perfect garden. This is because each variety of plant requires a different type of soil in order to thrive and reward you with lush foliage and dazzling flowers. Some plants are more hardy and can withstand various soil conditions whilst other plants are very fussy about their needs.
Chalk/Alkaline Soil
Some will say that chalk/alkaline soils are not easy to use in the garden. This does not have to be the case. Simply read up on the different plants that like this type of soil – some you may consider include bamboo, roses and honesty.
Sandy Soil
Congratulations if you have sandy soil in your garden as you will have a great selection of plants to choose from and it is also very easy to work with. The only problems you should be aware of is that fertiliser and water can drain through quickly. To avoid this problem, simply dig is some compost or manure. A layer of mulch on top will also work wonders.
Acid Soil
Many people just can't seem to be happy with the soil in their garden. It is always much easier to choose the best variety of plant for the soil but some gardeners have a specific idea of what plants they want to grow and then set about the changing the soil to suit. If you have acid soil but would prefer lime, then all you have to do is add lime. However, if you want to do the reverse then it is pretty much impossible unless you build a raised bed. This is because of the lime and chalk rocks that are likely to be under the soil.
Clay Soil
Clay soil definitely has it's plus and minus points. In it's favour, clay can hold nutrients and water for longer. The major problems, however, are that in a drought it becomes too dry and hard to work with, and during a wet spell it becomes too wet to work with. Plants that can be grown include daffodils, elder and roses. Whatever you do, do not mix sand into clay unless you want concrete!
There are a number of ways to find out what type of soil is in your garden. If you want to find out right now, have a look at the plants that are growing in your neighbours' gardens and then find out what sort of soil those plants grow in. If you are still unsure, you should buy a soil-testing kit from a garden supply shop.
George Kerr is a keen garden and DIY enthusiast who writes for website Finer Living which has further reading on
garden soil,
bark mulch and other garden related things.
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