Do you know your soil type?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by JWK, Oct 31, 2011.

  1. nFrost

    nFrost Head Gardener

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2013
    Messages:
    1,763
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Leachate Treatment Plant Manager
    Location:
    Cottingham, East Yorkshire
    Ratings:
    +2,908
    'Freely draining lime-rich loamy soils'...

    20140708_203738.jpg

    I'm assuming (hoping!) this year (our first) was a one off. :fingers crossed::fingers crossed::fingers crossed:
     
    • Funny Funny x 2
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
    • merleworld

      merleworld Total Gardener

      Joined:
      May 30, 2011
      Messages:
      2,673
      Gender:
      Female
      Location:
      Manchester
      Ratings:
      +4,087
      "Slowly permeable seasonally wet acid loamy and clayey soils" with low fertility. Sounds about right.
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jul 3, 2006
        Messages:
        63,371
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired - Last Century!!!
        Location:
        Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
        Ratings:
        +123,526
        I've just had a more detailed look at mine. Once I zoomed in as far as it would go it appeared to cut my garden in two!

        The West side is: Lime rich, loamy, clayey soil with impeded drainage - High fertility

        The East side is: Slightly acid, loamy, clayey soil with impeded drainage - Moderate to high fertility

        Our acid loving plants are in the West side :doh: :hate-shocked:

        It also said we have Arabs on our grass! :yikes: :lunapic 130165696578242 5:
         
        • Funny Funny x 3
        • Sheal

          Sheal Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Feb 2, 2011
          Messages:
          36,085
          Gender:
          Female
          Location:
          Dingwall, Ross-shire
          Ratings:
          +54,218
          Do we assume then that the rest of us in Britain......

          1. Haven't got any soil.
          2. Have perfect soil so we don't need to make use of the above link.
          3. Or the University is still working on the rest of the country.
          :doh::heehee:
           
        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

          Joined:
          Jul 3, 2006
          Messages:
          63,371
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired - Last Century!!!
          Location:
          Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
          Ratings:
          +123,526
          None of the above :lunapic 130165696578242 5:
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • "M"

            "M" Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Aug 11, 2012
            Messages:
            18,607
            Location:
            The Garden of England
            Ratings:
            +31,886
            Nah: it means ...

            ... we are the *chosen* ones ;) :love30::love30::love30:
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • Funny Funny x 1
            • ARMANDII

              ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

              Joined:
              Jan 12, 2019
              Messages:
              48,096
              Gender:
              Male
              Ratings:
              +100,844
              300 to 400 feet of sand topped by around 18" of top soil and around 35 years of compost being added to it, so a hungry fast draining soil which is very slightly alkaline.:coffee:
               
              • Like Like x 1
              • philomel

                philomel Pottering in SW France

                Joined:
                Feb 1, 2015
                Messages:
                631
                Gender:
                Female
                Location:
                Castelnau Rivière Basse
                Ratings:
                +846
                What a great resource, thanks JKW! If only this had been available when I was gardening in England....
                It's such a shame there's nothing like it - or at least I haven't found anything - in France. Although I think I know mine - heaviest clay possible with very impeded drainage lol
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • Sarah Giles

                  Sarah Giles Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Feb 18, 2015
                  Messages:
                  318
                  Gender:
                  Female
                  Occupation:
                  Volunteer/crazy person
                  Location:
                  Staffordshire
                  Ratings:
                  +711
                  That's really interesting! My home garden is slightly acid clay with impeded drainage, whereas my allotment is on more loamy slightly clay soil with free drainage. :D
                   
                  • Informative Informative x 2
                  • Phil A

                    Phil A Guest

                    Ratings:
                    +0
                    Accidentally clicked just off the map :doh:

                     
                    • Like Like x 2
                    • Sheal

                      Sheal Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Feb 2, 2011
                      Messages:
                      36,085
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Location:
                      Dingwall, Ross-shire
                      Ratings:
                      +54,218
                      I have no idea whether my soil is alkaline or acid although it's sandy. I've not felt the need to test it as I can generally guess what will grow in it and I don't mind a bit of trial and error along the way. :)
                       
                    • Phil A

                      Phil A Guest

                      Ratings:
                      +0
                      You'm probably tending towards acidic Sheal, with Granitic bedrock and sand. I guess there's a few Gorse bushes on the island.
                       
                      • Like Like x 1
                      • Sheal

                        Sheal Total Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Feb 2, 2011
                        Messages:
                        36,085
                        Gender:
                        Female
                        Location:
                        Dingwall, Ross-shire
                        Ratings:
                        +54,218
                        I think you're probably right Zigs. I have a feeling it's bordering acidic to neutral. Gorse bushes run riot here as in Ireland, they're such devils to get rid of too!
                         
                        • Agree Agree x 1
                        • Trunky

                          Trunky ...who nose about gardening

                          Joined:
                          Apr 23, 2011
                          Messages:
                          2,926
                          Gender:
                          Male
                          Occupation:
                          Professional Gardener (retired)
                          Location:
                          East Suffolk
                          Ratings:
                          +10,741
                          Don't half go up quickly if you set fire to 'em though. :whistle: :runforhills:
                           
                          • Agree Agree x 2
                          • Like Like x 1
                          • Funny Funny x 1
                          • Phil A

                            Phil A Guest

                            Ratings:
                            +0
                            Have you got Sundews and Bog Cotton too? :)
                             
                          Loading...

                          Share This Page

                          1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                            By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                            Dismiss Notice