Certainly you can get a bit of an idea just by looking and feeling the soil as you work it. Or you can take into account what you or other people you know and understand of the area. However it is amazing how soil types can change from one place to the next or even from one depth to another.
Though it might look and act very differently when it is moist as opposed to when it is a dry soil.
So here is one idea to give you an approximation of what the type or types of soil you have in your garden.
Note: Do this test at the area just under the mulch surface As well as at points further down in the soil layers. Remembering that what is at the surface may be very different to what is 6 in’ 150mm to a foot 300 mm down below the surface, when it comes to soil types in a garden. Or take an average by taking the same amont of soil from differing depths at the one site.
After all the roots of your plants will not stay in just the top hand depth of soil in the garden, just because that’s where you originally plant them.
You also might want to consider doing this in several locations around your property, if the soil structure is likely to vary from one area to another.
Preparation
Sift some of your garden soil, getting the bulk material like sticks and stones, out of the mix.
Put a cup of the sifted soil into a jar which can hold about 3 cups of material or more.
Fill most of the jar with water.
Method
After filling with water, shake vigorously for a few minutes (5-10), then put it aside to settle.
This will probably take a few days to complete and for all the soil particles to settle out. So relax and give it time to settle without disturbing it.
The heaviest particles, the sand will settle to the bottom, next will settle the silt and finally the lightest particles the clay will settle at the top. While any organic elements are likely to still be floating at the top of the jar.
A good soil will be approximately 45% sand, 35% silt and 20% clay.
Now while you will not be able to gain an accurate percentage breakdown in the soil composition. You should at least be able to gain a bit of an approximation of what sort of basic soil type/s that you are dealing with. And give you a bit of an idea if you might need to be adding either more clay material or more sand to improve your soils.
Though the one amazing thing about soil additives like compost and manures, is that it will improve both clay and sandy soils, with its addition of humus and other organic materials and other broken down elements.
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3 comments:
Excellent advice! Here in London the soil is mainly clay, and floods easily after rain. I've been growing veggies on the same plot for 25yrs and adding lots of stuff every year. Now I practice no-dig gardening, the texture is brilliant!
I like this low-tech way of testing your soil. I keep saying mine is sandy soil, but I really don't know that--only that it drains very well! I'll have to try this method and find out.
That is a FANTASTIC tip! Seriously, brilliant. I so often want to know what type of soil something is, more than just 'my guess'...will def be trying this!
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