It’s important to design a garden that will work well for you, and doing this effectively depends on the type of soil you have. Let’s have a look at the four main soil types, and how to identify them.
Clay soil
This is the most common soil type in Oxfordshire, especially in north Oxford. Clay soil is heavy and dense, sticks together in thick clumps and can be rolled and shaped easily in the hands. Clay soil retains more nutrients than other soils, but has poor drainage, which can mean it gets waterlogged in rainy weather and bakes hard in hot weather. Plants like hosters thrive in clay soils.
Sandy soil
On the other end of the spectrum, sandy soil is light, crumbly and dry. In Oxfordshire sandy soil is common in the Cowley area of Oxford where large areas of allotments were reconditioned in the past before houses were built on the land. Areas near rivers and lakes also often have sandy soil due to deposits left by the water. Sandy soil holds fewer nutrients but it drains well and doesn’t water log. Lavender does well in sandier soils.
Chalk soil
In the Oxfordshire region, Harwell and the Chilterns have chalky soil, easily identifiable by the hard lumps and chalky stones in the soil. This soil type retains some nutrients, and is generally very alkaline.
Silt soil
This is the best type of soil for a gardener as silt drains well, is nutrient-rich and very fertile, but is unfortunately rare in Oxfordshire. It has a slippery, soapy feel.
Knowing the soil type of your garden will gives you an idea of the plants that will thrive there, and what you can do to treat the soil to improve it.
Gardener’s Question Time!
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