- Loamy
- Chalky
- Clay
- Silty
- Peaty
- Sandy
- The perfect soil
- Good structure
- Drains well
- Retains moisture
- Full of nutrients
- Easy to cultivate
- Warms up quickly in spring and doesn’t dry out in summer
- Consider yourself very lucky if you have this soil
Chalky soil - typical of south-east England, chalky soil is very shallow, full of clumps of white chalk or flint and is very free-draining. This means it can be bone dry in summer and plants will need far more watering and feeding than on any other soil. Chalky soils are always alkaline, which restricts the number of plants that can grow on them. Planting may also be difficult as spades frequently hit lumps of hard chalk or flint.
Clay soil - this is sticky to handle and can be easily rolled into a ball shape. It is naturally high in nutrients so plants that like these conditions should do particularly well. It does pose some problems. In summer, it is often baked dry, with visible surface cracks, making it difficult to get water to plant roots. Yet in winter, it can be constantly wet and water logging is common. It is hard to dig at most times of the year.
Silty soil - is made up of fine grains, originally deposited by a river. The tiny particles give it a silky feel if rubbed between the fingers. It does not form distinct shapes like clay when wet, but it can be rolled into sausage-like strips. Silty soils can be badly drained but are not prone to water logging.
Peaty soil - the fens of eastern England are very peaty and are some of the country's best farmland. Plants grow happily in it, as long as they can adjust to the relatively acid conditions. Almost black to look at, easy to dig over and spongy to the touch, peaty soil can be soaking in winter and dry during most of the summer.
Sandy soil - feels rough and gritty when handled and will not form distinct shapes like clay. It usually has a sandy brown colour and is easy to dig over. Water-logging is rare on such soils as they are very free-draining and, accordingly, watering and feeding of plants is needed on a regular basis. It is quick to warm up in the spring, so sowing and planting can be done earlier in the year than with clay or silty soil.
- Alkaline, with a pH of 7.5 or more
- Usually stony
- Free draining
- Often overlays chalk or limestone bedrock
- This means some minerals, such as manganese (Mg) and iron (Fe), become unavailable to plants, causing poor growth and yellowing of leaves
- This can be remedied by adding fertilisers
Clay soil - this is sticky to handle and can be easily rolled into a ball shape. It is naturally high in nutrients so plants that like these conditions should do particularly well. It does pose some problems. In summer, it is often baked dry, with visible surface cracks, making it difficult to get water to plant roots. Yet in winter, it can be constantly wet and water logging is common. It is hard to dig at most times of the year.- Feels lumpy and sticky when very wet
- Rock-hard when dry
- Clay drains poorly
- Few air spaces
- Warms slowly in spring
- Heavy to cultivate
- If drainage is improved, plants grow well as it holds more nutrients than many other soils
Notes on improving clay soil, making it more suitable for a lifetime of happy gardening are provided on the page Gardening on clay soil.
Silty soil - is made up of fine grains, originally deposited by a river. The tiny particles give it a silky feel if rubbed between the fingers. It does not form distinct shapes like clay when wet, but it can be rolled into sausage-like strips. Silty soils can be badly drained but are not prone to water logging.
- Smooth and soapy to the touch
- Well-drained soil
- Retains moisture
- Richer in nutrients (more fertile) than sandy soil
- Easier to cultivate than clay
- Heavier than sand
- Soil structure is weak and easily compacted
- A very good soil if well managed
Whilst you are lucky to have one of the best types of soil, there is still some room for improvement. Some advise on how to make the soil better and make sure you maintain it as such a great growing medium on the page Gardening on silty soil.
- Contains a much higher proportion of organic matter (peat) because the soil’s acidic nature inhibits decomposition
- But this means there are few nutrients
- Dark in colour
- Warms up quickly in spring
- Highly water retentive and may require drainage if the water table is near the surface
- Fantastic for plant growth if fertiliser is added
Sandy soil - feels rough and gritty when handled and will not form distinct shapes like clay. It usually has a sandy brown colour and is easy to dig over. Water-logging is rare on such soils as they are very free-draining and, accordingly, watering and feeding of plants is needed on a regular basis. It is quick to warm up in the spring, so sowing and planting can be done earlier in the year than with clay or silty soil.
- Free-draining soil
- Gritty to the touch
- Warms up quickly in spring
- Easy to cultivate
- Dries out rapidly
- May lack nutrients, which are easily washed through the soil in wet weather (often called a "hungry" soil.)
Notes on improving your sandy soil, making it more amenable to growing the plants you probably would like to grow are provided on the page Gardening on sandy soil.
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