It is essential for those who plan to become gardeners to understand the different types of soil. Generally speaking, soil can be broken down into three categories, which are clay, sand and silt. The best type for planting is soil which is sandy. However, things can become a bit more complex depending on the type of plants you intend to grow.

Certain Plants Require Specific Soil Types

Soil is defined by its texture, or the amount of silt, clay and sand it holds. The texture is also influenced by its drainage and nutrient characteristics:

• Sand: This is the biggest particle to be found in soil and by itself doesn’t retain nutrients very well. However, there are certain plants which thrive in it, such as Wormwood, Adam’s Needle, Butterfly weed and Blanket Flower, which is ideal for drought conditions because of its pH neutrality.
• Silt: This material is powdery and has exceptional fertility. The downside is that soils rich in silt are susceptible to waterlogging but there are plants which thrive in it such as Yellow Iris, Swamp milkweed, and Japanese iris.
• Clay: Soil which contains extensive levels of clay tends to be heavy and won’t drain easily. Plants which do well in it include Black eyed Susan, Bee Balm and Goldenrod.

Which Soil is Ideal for Flowers?

The ideal soil for flowers depends on which on you wish to plant. For instance, flower bulbs do well in soil which is sandy and loamy because it offers outstanding drainage which prevents bulb rooting and encourages root growth. Potting soil texture functions best in situations where the plants are placed directly into the container. For flower gardens, it is recommended to utilize soil which is a mixture of topsoil, peat and compost with a ratio of 1:1:1.

Which Soil is Ideal for Vegetables?

Certain soils work well for specific vegetables. For example, gardeners that intend to establish a garden with a bed that is raised should use soil which is comprised of 50 percent topsoil and 50 percent compost. Field gardens require soil that can drain well, and soil which is rich in clay must be amended so that the liquid correctly drains. Things that can be used for soil amending include expanded shale, gypsum or vermiculite.

What about Indoor Plants?

Those that plan to grow houseplants indoors might believe it’s ideal to just scoop up soil from their backyard and use it to grow indoor plants, but this is not recommended. The reason is because yard soil consists of bacteria which might actually harm the houseplants. A better alternative is to either purchase commercialized pot soil or sterilize the soil you bring in from outdoors.

How to Sterilize Soil

To sterilize soil, it must be pasteurized so that disease, weeds and insects are eradicated. To do this at home, you’ll want to spread the soil out on top of the cookie sheet then place it into an oven and bake at 180 degrees for thirty minutes. While the baking process will emit an unpleasant odor, the bacteria will be eviscerated.