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Soil Types
Soil type is a combination of the following ingredients in varying quantities.
Chalky Soil
Usually light brown in colour, chalky soils are alkaline and contain large quantities of various sized stones. Chalky soils dry out quickly in the summer and have a tendency to block trace elements such as iron and manganese, making them unavailable to plants. This in turn causes poor growth and yellowing of leaves. Chalky soil is extremely poor quality and needs regular, substantial addition of fertilizers and other soil improvers.
Clay Soil
Clay is typically sticky, lumpy and pliable.
When dry, they form rock-hard clots. Clay soils are composed of fine particles with few air spaces. They are hard to work, often drain poorly and they are also prone to water logging in spring.
Blue or grey clays have poor aeration and must be loosened in order to support healthy growth.
Red colour in clay soil indicates good aeration and a "loose" soil that drains well. As clay contains high nutrient levels plants grow well if drainage is adequate.
Loamy Soil
Considered to be the perfect soil, Loamy soils are a combination of roughly 40% sand, 40% silt and 20% clay. Loamy soils can range from easily workable fertile soils full of organic matter, to densely packed sod. Characteristically they drain well, yet retain moisture and are nutrient rich, making them ideal for cultivation.
Peaty Soil
Containing more organic material than other type of soils, peaty soil's acidity inhibits the process of decomposition. This type of soil contains fewer nutrients than most other soils and is prone to over-retaining water. Plants can be grown in peaty soil through good management, use of fertiliser and artificial drainage.
Sandy Soils
Sandy soils are formed from weathered rocks such as limestone, quartz, granite, and shale and have a gritty texture. Should sandy soil contain enough organic matter it is easy to cultivate, however it is prone to over-draining and summer dehydration. In wet weather, sandy soil can have problems retaining moisture and nutrients.
Silty Soil
Considered to be among the most fertile soils, silty soil is typically composed of minerals (predominantly quartz) and fine organic particles. It has more nutrients than sandy soil but still offers good drainage. When dry, silty soil has a smooth texture and looks like dark sand. Its weak soil structure means that it is easy to work with when moist and it holds moisture well.
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