Soil Types
http://www.garden-articles.co.uk/articles/4/1/Soil-Types/Page1.html
Gayle Wooton
By Gayle Wooton
Published on 11/4/2008
The size and proportion of clay, sand and silt partilces that are present in your garden soil determine it's physical nature. The chemicals contained within will determine the type of garden that will flourish.
A useful guide to soil
The elements contained within your soil will make it either a heavy (meaning wet and poorly drained), or light (which is dry and well drained), and therefore determine what plants will thrive when planted in it.
The chemical nature, or pH value, is measured on a scale of 1-14. Below 7 (neutral), soils are progressively acid or 'Lime Free'; above neutral they are progressively alkaline (limy). You can establish what type of soil you have by looking at the colour, feeling the texture, and observing what type of plants will grow on it or you may also do a soil test.
Heavy Clay
Minute clay particles stick together, making clay soils slow draining after rain, and sticky and likey to bake hard in dry sun. Often very fertile they can be improved by draining, or by adding grit or coarse organic matter.
Sandy
Sand particles are much larger than clay, making sandy soils light, free draining, and quick to warm up in spring. Some plants need irrigation and feeding, although this can be improved with organic matter.
Lime- Free
Peaty of lime free soils are generally dark and rich in organic matter. Acid in nature and moisture-retentive, they are favoured by plants intolerant of alkaline soils. This soil can be made free-draining by adding coarse sand.
Alkaline
Limy or alkaline soils, including chalk, are usually pale, shallow, and stony. Free draining, they will warm up quickly in spring, and are moderately fertile. Like sandy soils they will benefit from the addition of organic matter.
The chemical nature, or pH value, is measured on a scale of 1-14. Below 7 (neutral), soils are progressively acid or 'Lime Free'; above neutral they are progressively alkaline (limy). You can establish what type of soil you have by looking at the colour, feeling the texture, and observing what type of plants will grow on it or you may also do a soil test.
Heavy Clay
Minute clay particles stick together, making clay soils slow draining after rain, and sticky and likey to bake hard in dry sun. Often very fertile they can be improved by draining, or by adding grit or coarse organic matter.
Sandy
Sand particles are much larger than clay, making sandy soils light, free draining, and quick to warm up in spring. Some plants need irrigation and feeding, although this can be improved with organic matter.
Lime- Free
Peaty of lime free soils are generally dark and rich in organic matter. Acid in nature and moisture-retentive, they are favoured by plants intolerant of alkaline soils. This soil can be made free-draining by adding coarse sand.
Alkaline
Limy or alkaline soils, including chalk, are usually pale, shallow, and stony. Free draining, they will warm up quickly in spring, and are moderately fertile. Like sandy soils they will benefit from the addition of organic matter.