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A Simple Soil Test

While it is not always possible because of existing
plantings or established lawns to prepare soil as you
might like it is always a good idea to understand the principles.
The simple test below will give you a good starting point for
understanding the type of soil you have and the best approach
to take in preparation.

This test will give you an idea of your soil consistency and the balance of sand and clay and what goes on in your landscape with every application of water or rain.

  1. Get a clean glass jar with a lid. Fill the jar half full of the soil you want to test.
  2. Fill the jar with water and add a couple of teaspoons of regular table salt to speed up the process.
  3. Shake the jar until the water and soil are thoroughly mixed.
  4. Allow the contents to completely settle. Give it about an hour or so until the water has become transparent.
  5. The coarser sandy content will settle to the bottom and the finer clays and silts will settle on the top.

What determines fundamental soil type is consistency or the size of mineral particles. At the top of the soil pyramid is clay. Clay is made up of particles 1/12.500th of an inch in size or smaller. This makes it much more dense and harder to work than the various degrees of sands which are made up of increasingly larger particles.

Plants find it difficult to thrive in pure clay soil. It becomes very compacted when dry and it holds too much moisture when saturated. In drought conditions it is hard fresh water to penetrate sun baked clay. The high degree of expansion and contraction can have a brutal effect on concrete foundations of homes. Imagine what it does to tender plant roots!

Sandy soils vary greatly in consitency with the size of the various particles. Because it does not compact as readily, water pentrates quickly but runs off or evaporates just as quickly. Dry sandy soils can be blown about by the wind. (Continued)

Organic Garden References and Instructions

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