| Shake Up Your Soil | | | | top of the clay layer on the jar when it |
| (NOTE: an image is included as part of this article. | | | | hassettled. |
| If you cannotaccessthe image, e-mail me and I | | | | Once your soil layers are settled and marked, you |
| will send it to you.) | | | | cananalyze the thickness of the levels to see how |
| Many of us know that our soil isn't as good as we | | | | much of eachcomponent you have. Observe the |
| want it tobe. Some soils are extremely sandy and | | | | layers and give each apercentage based on it's |
| do not hold water atall. Other soils are mostly clay | | | | size compared to the entire soilsample. This |
| and hold water all toowell. However, it can be | | | | number does not have to be exact, just |
| maddeningly difficult to decipherwhat exactly your | | | | makesure that the three percentages add up to |
| soil is composed of that keeps it frombeing your | | | | be 100%. |
| plant's dirt paradise. However, determining | | | | For example, your soil sample might look like it is |
| whattype of soil that you have is not only easy, it | | | | 40%sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay. This adds up |
| can be veryamusing. After all, for this experiment | | | | to 100% soil. Youcan use these three numbers to |
| you get anotherchance to dig in the dirt. | | | | determine the texture of yoursoil using a table |
| The soil in your yard is made up of three main | | | | called the Soil Texture Triangle (seebelow). |
| components:sand, silt, and clay. The ideal ratio of | | | | The Soil Texture Triangle |
| these threecomponents in your soil is 1:1:1, or | | | | " |
| about 33% of each; thisis called a loamy soil. It | | | | To use the Soil Texture Triangle, find the |
| provides good drainage whilestill has a good | | | | percentage numberof your three components on |
| water-holding capacity. Knowing whatpercentage | | | | the table. To follow along withour previous |
| of each component you have in your soil gives | | | | example of 40-40-20, first look at the |
| youthe information you need to amend your soil | | | | 'percentsand' section at the bottom of the |
| properly. | | | | triangle. 40% is a littleto the right of center. The |
| To determine the amount of sand, silt, and clay in | | | | 'percent silt' section is theright side of the triangle, |
| yoursoil, there is a simple test that you can do by | | | | where 40% is just a little abovecenter. Lastly, the |
| just usingmaterials around your home. First, you | | | | 'percent clay' section is on the leftside of the |
| will need a glass jarwith straight sides. A mason | | | | triangle, and 20% is near the bottom. |
| jar works really well, and makesure you have the | | | | Follow along with your eyes or use your fingers |
| top to the jar. Second, you will need someclean | | | | to trace thethree lines coming from the |
| water. The third item on the list is a surfactant | | | | percentage numbers until theyall intersect at a |
| likeliquid dishwashing detergent. Lastly, you need | | | | point. For our example, all three linesintersect in |
| some soilfrom your yard. Try to remove all large | | | | the middle bottom of the triangle in thecolored |
| rocks, pebbles, andplant material from the soil. | | | | section called 'loam.' This means that your soil |
| Fill up the jar with water until it is about 1/2 to 3 | | | | hasa loamy texture, and will work quite well for |
| 4full, then add one teaspoon of the detergent. | | | | growing plantsand turf. |
| Now, sprinklein the soil from your yard until the | | | | Study the Soil Texture Triangle to see what |
| jar is almost full; youneed to leave a little space | | | | differentcombinations create different soil |
| of air so the concoction willmix well. Screw on the | | | | textures. There aretwelve main textures that |
| top and check to make sure it istightly sealed. | | | | your soil can have. It can rangefrom clay to |
| Now for the fun part. Shake the jar vigorously to | | | | sandy clay loam to silt, with a whole lot |
| mixtogether the soil, water, and detergent. A | | | | morechoices in between. By determining what |
| good one to twominutes should do it; your goal is | | | | type of soil textureyou have, you can then make |
| to break up all the soilchunks and mix them in | | | | any necessary adjustments tocreate a good, |
| with the soapy water. Once you thinkit's | | | | loamy soil to support your plants. |
| well-mixed, set the jar down on a flat surface. | | | | Carrie P. Williams is a professional landscape |
| Sand is the heaviest particle in your soil, and it | | | | designer with |
| willsettle first. Most of the sand should sink to the | | | | Turf Tamer, Inc. She has written many |
| bottomwithin the first minute after you've | | | | informativelandscaping articles for Turf Tamer's |
| stopped shaking thejar. Once you think the sand | | | | Tip of the Weekprogram. Want to learn more |
| is all settled, mark the jarwith a permanent | | | | landscaping tips andtricks? Go to HYPERLINK |
| marker where the top of the sand layer is. | | | | " sign up for the 'Tip of the Week' and learn more |
| The silt is the next heaviest particle, and should | | | | tips! |
| settleduring the next four hours. When it has | | | | Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. |
| settled, once againmark the top of the silt layer | | | | Checked by AVG anti-virus system ( |
| with a waterproof pen. Theclay particles are the | | | | Version: 6.0. |
| lightest, and should settle after 24hours. Mark the | | | | |