The 6 Different Soil Types: Explained
Once a new plant has been watered and has adjusted to its new home, it needs to be repotted. You’ll need a good container and soil. However, soil is not a one-size fits all kind of deal; there are actually 6 different types! I have compiled a list to help you determine the right type of soil for your new (or old) plant.
Soil Types
1. Clay soils
- Description: comprised of over ¼ clay; holds a high amount of water and drains slowly; slightly sticky when wet; takes longer to warm in the spring than sandy soils; easily compacted while wet; can bake in the summer
- known as a heavy soil, which is a potentially fertile soil because of the amount of nutrients that are present
- Conditioning: yearly tilling and aeration are the best ways to reduce compaction
- Problems: low drainage capacity
2. Sandy soils
- Description: comprised of a ratio of mostly sand to little clay; warm more quickly in the spring than clay soils; dry out quickly and low in plant nutrients
- known as a light soil, which drain quickly and is easy to cultivate and work
- Identification: gritty texture; fall through fingers; do not clump and stick together
- Conditioning: add fertilizer in small, frequent applications for best results since sandy soils tend to leach nutrients that are added
- Problems: low water retention; low in nutrients
3. Silty soils
- Description: fertile; relatively well-draining; hold more moisture than sandy soils
- Pure silt soils are rare, especially in gardens
- Conditioning: yearly tilling and aeration are the best ways to reduce compaction
- Problems: easily compacted
4. Loamy soils
- Description: mixture of clay, sand, and silt soils; as a result of this mixture, this soil avoids the extremes of either clay or sandy soils; fertile, well-draining, and easily worked
- Conditioning: little to no need to condition
- Problems: little to no problems depending on the concentration of the loam mixture – clay, sand, or silt
5. Chalky soils
- Description: largely comprised of calcium carbonate (chalk); lime-rich; may contain chunks of chalky white stone
- can be a heavy or light soil, depending on its composition
- Conditioning: little to no conditioning is possible; this soil can’t be acidified
- Problems: low fertility levels
6. Peat soils
- Description: comprised of mainly organic matter; usually extremely fertile; holds a high amount of water; typically, extremely acidic
- Very rarely found naturally in gardens
If you don’t know what type of soil you have in your yard, you can try these two simple tests – adapted from The Spruce – to identify your soil and its qualities. You can also use “The Jar Test” from Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center to determine what soil type you have.
Soil Test 1 – how to determine your soil type based on its composition.
- Take a handful of moist soil.
- Can you roll the soil into a log? Is it somewhat shiny? You have clay soil.
- Does the soil feel gritty? Does it slip through your fingers? You have sandy soil.
- Does the soil feel slightly slippery? You have silty soil.
- Squeeze the soil. Does it hold its shape? Now poke the soil. Does it crumble? You have loamy soil.
Soil Test 2 – how to determine your soil’s drainage capacity.
- Dig a hole about 6in (15cm) wide and 1ft (30cm) deep.
- Fill the hole with water. Let it drain completely.
- Keep track of how long it takes for the water to drain!
- Fill it with water again.
- Make sure to keep track of how long it takes again.
- If the water takes more than four hours to drain, your soil has poor drainage capacity.