What Type of Garden Soil Do I Have?

Now that I have space to garden in the ground since moving to our new space, I need to figure out how to best use the type of soil I have in my garden. This can get confusing, since there are so many out there. Today I want to discuss with you the type of garden soil you may have in your garden and how to work with it.

If you are like me, you probably gardening with a combination of containers and using the ground space you have. Different types of plants also require varying soils as well.

Soil is a very important component of your garden. Great soil will help your plants thrive, while poor soil will produce poor crops, or worse, kill your beloved plants.

This can be overwhelming, especially if you are just starting out garden, but its really important to know your garden soil so that you can grow the best plants possible.

Types of Garden Soil

If you are planting a garden in the ground around your property, its best to know the type of garden soil that you are working with. There are six main types of garden soil, based on where you live. The types of garden soil are as follows:

• Peat soil
• Clay soil
• Chalk soil
• Sand soil
• Loam soil
• Silt soil

Peat soil has high amounts of peat in the dirt. It has high amounts of acid, which may or may not help plants, based on what you grow in it. Certain soil amendments work great at making the pH higher when mixed with peat soil.

Clay soil is hard and has poor drainage. Southern California, despite the great weather here, is known for its poor clay soil. Plants can grow well in heavy clay soil when its mixed with elements for better drainage.

Chalk soil contains more stones than other types of soil. It is a well draining soil. The pH may need to be adjusted to avoid yellow leaves on plants from the alkaline in the soil.

Sandy soil quickly dries out and is well drained. It is also quick to warm up once the weather is milder, but does not contain many nutrients for plants. Mixing sand soil with amendments can make it a better soil candidate for plants.

Loam soil has the perfect amount of silt, sand, and clay, which is perfect for gardening. It has great drainage, can hold moisture, and has plenty of nutrients to help plants thrive. Loam soil is usually acidic and needs to be mixed with organic material to keep its components fresh.

Soil with silt feels like soap and is soft to the touch. It contains many nutrients and can hold plenty of moisture. You can always mix in a compost to further improve drainage and add nutrients when needed.

pH of Garden Soil

The pH of your garden soil can also determine how well plants will thrive. Most plants do well when the pH is somewhere in the middle. A pH test kit can let you know the levels of your soil. You can also get a soil test kit to determine what kind of soil you have so you know if you need to add anything to your garden soil.

Once you know all the components of your garden soil, you can figure out if you need to add anything to your soil to prepare it for plants. Below are some materials you can add to help your plants thrive in your garden.

Container Soil

Container soil, also called potting soil, is ideal for plants that grow in pots and containers. Even though this is not added to ground soil, I decided to add it since so many gardeners grow plants in containers. I started with a container garden myself.

Container mixes need to be well drained so that extra water can drain through and to give the plants’ roots plenty of room to grow. Potting mix should be replaced every year to keep your container plants thriving.

I sometimes cheat by reusing potting soil by dumping out half a pot, adding fresh potting mix to the top, then mixing to two for a new plant. Its worked so far for many of my container plants.

There are different types of potting mix for a variety of plants. There are general container mixes, as well as potting mixes for houseplants, succulents, flowering plants, trees, and more. I use potting mixes designed for a variety of plants that grow well.

In-Ground Soil

In-ground soil is dirt that is mixed with the native soil. It has extra nutrients and can balance out the pH of the native soil when mixed together. I am currently using in-ground soil mixed with native soil for the plants I am growing in the ground around my patio.

Garden Compost

If you have a lot of ground to cover in your garden, consider using compost. Compost is recycled organic matter that is rich in nutrients and great to use with soil to help your plants grow and thrive in their growing space.

Many gardeners make their own compost with kitchen scraps. A composter is a great place to keep your kitchen scraps until you are ready to make and use it as compost in your garden.

Amending Soil

Another step you can take to make the most out of your soil is by amending it. Amending soil are materials you add to soil to enhance it so that it has the right nutrients and pH levels suitable to the plants you plan on growing there.

Manure, perlite, peat and basic garden amending soil mixes can be purchased at local garden centers. If you have been gardening for awhile, you can find some of these on your property to use.

Garden Mulch

Mulch is also a great additive to your garden soil. Mulch keeps the soil moist, discourages weeds from growing, keeps disease away, and gives the garden a nice aesthetic look.

Mulch comes in different forms. A popular type you can buy from local garden centers and online is bark. You can also use dead leaves and grass cuttings. Add a few inches of mulch above the soil to protect and conserve the dirt and plants around it.

Type of Garden Soil

This is just a basic overview of the different types of garden soil and what you can add to your soil to grow thriving plants in your garden. Do you know what kind of soil is in your garden? Let me know your thoughts on this post in the comments section below.