Ideas
Step 1: Get to Know Your Soil
Do you already have high quality soil, or does it need improvement?
These four tests will tell you.
1. The Squeeze Test
A rule of thumb in gardening is that there are three types of soil. The squeeze test shows
you which type you have. Grab a handful of moist (not wet) soil from a few inches down,
squeeze it, then open your hand.
Photos © University of California, Davis
If it holds its shape, and does
not crumble when you poke
it lightly with your finger, you
have clay-ish soil. It's rich in
nutrients, but short on open
space between dirt particles
and drains slowly. The
stagnant water deprives
plant roots of oxygen.
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If it falls apart when you open
your hand, you have sandy-ish
soil that does not hold water
long enough for plant roots to
absorb it. It lacks nutrients, too.
If it holds its shape, then
crumbles when you poke
it, you have loamy-ish, a.k.a.
beautiful soil.
