You’ve picked out the perfect perennials, found the trendiest garden furniture, and mapped out a dream design for your outdoor space, but then you hit the dirt.
For many new gardeners, the excitement of a first project often stalls at the first shovel load because they feel confused by what’s beneath their feet. Whether the ground is too sticky, too gritty, understanding your soil is often the most daunting part of starting a garden, yet it remains an important factor in how your garden thrives.
As part of the nationwide Make it Bloom campaign, British Garden Centres is stepping in to clear up the confusion. The initiative aims to inspire and support every gardener, whether you’re nurturing your very first plant or tending a thriving outdoor retreat.
Julian Palphramand, Head of Plants at British Garden Centres, said: “Understanding your soil results in better growth and takes the guesswork out of gardening. Our beginners’ guide is designed to help you create the garden you have always dreamed of by laying the right foundations from day one and make it bloom.”
This feature provides the tools and advice to make it bloom for every season, starting with the ‘lifeblood’ of your garden: the soil. To help you stop guessing and start growing, we have compiled a guide to the most common soil types found in our gardens.
Clay soil is exactly how it sounds, sticky when wet and cracked or hard during hotter weather. While it is typically soft in spring and summer, it can become difficult in winter and suffers from poor drainage. However, clay holds water for long periods and can be very fertile. To improve it, incorporate bulky organic matter like compost or manure along with some sand and grit to help with aeration.
Best for: Roses, Euphorbia, Hydrangea Macrophylla, Forsythia, and Geraniums.
Sandy soil is a great, free-draining soil that warms up easily in the summer sun, making it easy for plants to establish their roots. The downside is that it loses nutrients fast and has poor water retention. To get the best growth, plants in sandy soil will need regular watering and feeding with fertilisers.
Best for: Star Jasmine, Dianthus, Buddleia, Lavender, and Rosemary.
Silty soil is very fertile, allowing plants to thrive. It holds more nutrients than sand, retains moisture well, and has a silky, smooth texture. While it is ideal for most plants, its biggest disadvantage is waterlogging. This can be avoided by being careful not to overwater and aerating the ground when needed.
Best for: Magnolia, Hellebores, Ferns, Alliums, and Snowdrops.
Chalky soil is stony and lumpy with a high alkalinity. Because it is often quite thin, minerals and water drain away quickly, making it susceptible to drying out in the summer. This can cause poor growth or yellowing leaves. It is vital to feed plants regularly if planting directly into chalky soil and to add organic matter annually.
Best for: Lily of the Valley, Polemonium, Lavender, Clematis, and Peonies.
Loamy soil is considered the perfect soil type. Loam is a combination of sand, silt, and clay. It is the all-rounder that doesn’t get waterlogged, is easy to dig, and is packed with nutrients. Because it holds moisture and food so well, the disadvantages are very few, and almost all plants will thrive here.
Best for: Carrots, Tomatoes, Delphiniums, Foxgloves, and Wisteria
How to test your soil:
A really simple way of finding out what soil you have is to roll a damp handful in your hands to form a ball:
Clay: Easily forms into a solid, sticky ball.
Sand: The ball will crumble and fall apart as you try to form it.
Silt: Has a slippery texture and won’t clump easily.
Loam: Somewhere in between a clay and sand ball; it holds shape but breaks easily.
Chalk: Small pieces of white chalk and flint will be clearly visible.
With thanks to British Garden Centres