Before you go all hog-wild digging, planting, and gardening, it’s important to know how well your soil drains. Most plants prefer well-draining soil, but some can be planted in claylike soils, and some do well in sandier soils. This simple activity will help you learn what’s going on under your feet.
MATERIALS
Shovel
Hose or bucket full of water
Ruler
Timer
2. Fill the hole with water and let it completely drain out. (Fig. 2)
3. Place the ruler in the hole. Fill the hole again, note the measurement on the ruler and begin timing. Write down the water level every minute. (Fig. 3)
4. Once the hole is completely drained, note how long it took.
• 0 to 10 minutes: You have fast draining soil. This may be a good place to plant herbs if it gets a lot of sun.
• 11 to 60 minutes: You have well-draining soil. This is ideal for the widest range of plant growth.
• 60+ minutes: You have slow draining soil, which may contain a lot of clay. You may need to amend the soil with compost and/or sand.
UNDERSTANDING SAND, SILT, AND CLAY
There are three basic elements of soil: sand, silt, and clay. Each of these particles is a different size, and different soils contain various amounts of each of them, in addition to gravel. Here is a way to remember how big each particle is:
To be a particle of sand, stand with your arms and legs outstretched as far as possible. Water can easily move between the particles.
Two particles of sand.
To be a particle of silt, stand with hands on your hips and feet closer together. Water could still move between these two particles, but it’s a bit more difficult.
Two particles of silt.
To be a particle of clay, keep your arms down at your sides and your feet together. It would be very difficult for water to get between these two particles of clay.
Two particles of clay.
DIG DEEPER!