Basic Things Everyone Should Know About Their Soil

Basic Things Everyone Should Know About Their Soil

A solitary tree standing in a plowed field, its branches stark against the bleak sky.

If you’re new to the gardening world, you probably don’t know a whole lot about soil. In fact, you might get bored even at the mention of it! However, your soil is crucial to the wellbeing of your plants, landscape, and livelihood as a human being. There are a few basic things that everyone should know about soil. Understanding it will change the way you garden, and the way you view your landscape! Read on to learn some basic facts about soils that will most definitely help you in your yard.

Soil is a Living Thing

Yes, you read that correctly. Soil is alive. It is made up of billions of different microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, algae, and more. Understanding this basic principle of soil is really important to understanding how you should care for it. Just seeing it as ‘dirt’ will make it a low priority. However, if you see it as a valuable asset to your property and a high priority, you’ll benefit your entire landscape. Healthy soil means healthy plants! Healthy plants mean a green and beautiful view.

Sand, Silt, and Clay

The three basic components of soil are sand, silt, and clay. All soils can be narrowed down to a combination of these 3 things. A certain percentage of each in a soil determines what kind it is. Knowing what your soil is made up of can tell you a lot about what kind of plants will grow in it and what you can do to treat it and keep it healthy. For example, if my soil is 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay, I have a “Loam”. Knowing what kind of soil I have will tell me how quickly water will pass through it and how much water it retains. Before anything else, you should know what kind of soil you’re dealing with in your landscape!

The DIY Texture Test

You may find this surprising, but testing what kind of soil yourself is actually really simple. Of course, a more exact analysis can be done through a soil lab, but if you’re just wanting to do a quick self-analysis, here’s what you should do! Click here to see the “USDA Guide to Texture by Feel”. This is a simple flow chart that can tell you relatively what kind of soil you have. Start with a small amount of soil in your hand and use water to turn it into a thick paste. Then, follow the instructions on the chart until you can determine what it is. This should be a simple, quick way to see what kind of soil is in your landscape.

Soil Acidity

Finally, you should know how acidic your soil is. Depending on how acidic or basic a soil’s pH is, plants will either thrive or struggle in a certain area. The pH can change a lot in different areas in a yard based on surrounding plants, 

moisture, and more. When you test your pH, be sure to test all areas of your yard so you know the pH of each section. You can do this either by purchasing a pH meter, or calling a professional landscaper. A meter is typically inexpensive, but having a professional do it will most likely give you more accurate readings.

These basic soil principles will help you understand your landscape better. Be sure to contact your local landscaping company with any questions!

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