Soil Types Identification
Understanding the soil which you have to work with when landscaping is as important as the design. The soil that is being worked, will dictate the species of plants and shrubs which will survive and thrive and which will fail to grow. By knowing the type of soil you have to work with, whether it is sandy, clay, loam, peat or chalk will help you in choosing the right plants for the area.
Knowing The Soil Types
- Clay soils are heavy, high in nutrients, wet and cold in winter and baked dry in summer
- Sandy soils are light, dry, warm, low in nutrients and often acidic
- Silt soils are fertile, light but moisture-retentive, and easily compacted
- Loams are mixtures of clay, sand and silt that avoid the extremes of each type
- Peat soils are very high in organic matter and moisture
- Chalky soils are very alkaline and may be light or heavy