How to identify your garden’s soil type
Joel Hitchens
Alongside climate, another factor that is important to consider when starting your garden is what type of soil you have. Soil varies significantly, but it can be roughly categorized into six different groups: Clay, Silt, Sand, Alkaline, Peat, and Loam. Each of these types of soil suit different varieties of plants and require different treatment to produce optimal growing conditions. One of the easiest ways to determine what type of soil you have is to just observe it by sight and touch. If you take a handful of soil and rub it between your fingers and thumb, that can tell you a lot about what type you have.
Clay will feel sticky and if it is moist you will be able to shape it when you press on it. Clay is made up of extremely fine particles that become sticky when wet and extremely hard when they are dry. (Not an innuendo) Silty soil is similarly fine, but not to the same extent as clay. Silt will feel silky in your hand and pack down when it’s wet, but it will not be nearly as mouldable as clay. Unlike silt, sandy soil feels gritty and coarse. Sandy soil won’t hold together as well when it is wet, making it very workable. Alkaline soil will feel crumbly, look pale, and often contain a lot of stones. Alkaline soil has a high pH and will be quite inhospitable to plants. On the opposite end of the spectrum is peat, which will be dark brown or black and feel spongy. Peat has a lower, more acidic pH. Finally, loam will have a balance between these textures. It will be mouldable, but not sticky, and should be both soft and somewhat crumbly. This is because loam is a combination of clay, silt, and sand.
If you have observed your soil and still aren’t sure exactly what type of soil you have I recommend this DIY soil test which involves using water, detergent, and a mason jar to separate the different elements in your soil. Using this method you can get a more specific read on what your soil is composed of, but it will take a couple days.
While loam is widely considered the most hospitable type of soil, don’t worry if that’s not what is in your garden! Each type of soil has different advantages, and every one of them can be managed to make your garden more productive, healthy, and sustainable. Plus, knowing your soil, you can make more informed decisions about which seeds or sprouts to look for when you’re making exchanges!
I used to live in an apartment building with a small front yard so naturally I wanted to start gardening there. I was disappointed to find that the soil was really sandy and full of broken glass (learned a valuable lesson about wearing gloves). However, just because the soil wasn’t great did not mean I didn’t have options! Strawberries can be very successful in sandy soil and with the right amount of TLC, onions, garlic, and cucumbers can also way exceed expectations. My solution was to build small raised beds and container plants with a mix of my soil (with the glass removed) and some compost I got from a friend. My roommates and I all took care of the plants, and when the summer came around and I was ready to harvest, I had found that someone in another apartment had added some of their own plants too! They told me that they had wanted to start gardening there, but didn’t want to take on the whole project alone. Long story short, there are always reasons not to do something, but soil shouldn’t be one of them. Regardless of what soil you have, or how much space you have, you can start a garden. You will be amazed at how quickly it creates bonds between you and your neighbors.
