There are many different kinds of soils around the world. Some are easy to grow things in, and some are not. So if you’ve been doing your best to get something to grow and aren’t having any luck, it might not be your fault. Sometimes the type of soil you have plays a major factor in whether or not your plants will grow. Don’t be discouraged. There are things you can do to improve the quality of your soil and grow better plants. This article will go over the difference between sandy and clay soil and how to fix them.
Differences Between Sandy and Clay Soil
Sandy Soil
If your soil is too sandy, it can create some problems. The good news is that water soaks into sandy soil very easily. Since sandy soil is very loose, water can easily permeate it. The bad news is that if there is too much water in sandy soil it can wash away. Large rainstorms can wash away the soil around your plants because it doesn’t stay in place easily when it gets soaking wet. Plants also have an easier time growing in sandy soils because they can easily penetrate the soil. Sandy soils typically don’t develop a crust that plants have to grow through. If you live in rainy area, sandy soil could be a problem because it could get washed away. But if you live in a dry area, you might not have to worry about this.
Image Source: Denali Gillen
Clay Soil
Clay soil will not wash away, it is stuck where it is. Because clay soil is so firm this means that it is also hard to penetrate. Plants often have a hard time growing through clay soil because they are not strong enough to get through it. Clay soil also has a hard time absorbing water. Water will sometimes sit on top of clay soil because it cannot sink down through the soil to get to the roots. This also makes it hard for plants to grow.
What to Do
So if you have sandy or clay soil, what do you do to fix it? Simply adding sand to clay soil, or adding clay to sandy soil won’t work. The answer is organic matter. More simply put, the answer is compost. Compost will drastically improve the quality of your soil. If you have clay soil that will not absorb water and is packed too tightly, compost can fix that. Compost will make clay soil expand and get more light and airy. This will also help it absorb water and become breathable. Compost will also fix sandy soil. Compost will help sandy soil become more dense and less likely to wash away. Compost is the key for plant success. There are so many wonderful things that compost can do for the health of your plants.
Summing Up
Whether you have sandy or clay soil, compost can fix it. Don’t give up! You can have successful plants that grow beautifully. It might take awhile to fix your soil, but there is hope. Knowing what type of soil you have can help you create a plan to fix it. Your plant’s success all depends on the work you’re willing to put into it.
Image Source: Pixabay
Leave a Reply