How to identify the type of soil?

How to identify the type of soil?

I'm planning a complete make-over of the old garden. Considering high prices for matured plants I'd rather don't trial-and-fail but would plant what is likely to survive... So, is there any known service I can send the samples of the soil to for subsequent meaningful plants selection?

Thanks for your help

 

Hi Pavel,

You can do quite a lot of testing yourself and save money. My soil is very inconsistent - some strong acid and alkali sections - and I use an electronic tester to tell me the type and water content of the soil before I plant.

There is a website that sells similar kinds of testers to what I have linked here:

http://www.keengardener.co.uk/others.htm

Don't forget that the light, exposure and other conditions may need to be investigated for successful plants.

 

you're better to do it yourself! (cheaper, anyway!) FIrst the ph - get a kit from a garden centre, and follow the instructions - chances are you're fairly alkaline where you are. Secondly the structure - get a handful of soil, squeeze it firmly - if it sticks together, it's clay based, and if it falls apart i'ts sandy. After that - have a look on web-sites for plants that like soil like that! To improve any soil - add compost - if very clay, add gravel, and sand - not builders, though. Have fun!

 

Hi, Dave - looks like we're on the same wave-length!

 

Hmm, light & exposure... I knew my photography skills could be of some use one day

Thanks guys, I'll try to get some testers

 

Hope you find what you're looking for Pavel - if you have consistent soil in your garden it can be very helpful for planning, but if you're like me and have all kinds it can make it more fun/challenging for choosing plants! :D

PS - yes, Nixon.. I'd be worried if I was you!

 

On the same note what is in your opinion the best mail-order/on-line nursery? I would be certainly interested in taller shrubs: http://www.hedgingandtopiary.co.uk is looking good, but selection is rather limited and pricey. Also what would be a worthy plants bible to own, I have some "New Expert" books but they are rather sketchy on many topics

 

Hi Pavel,

I'm weighing up whether to order some stuff from www.hedging.co.uk - they seem to be very good supplies, and very good prices, but I've yet to try them.

Anyone else had any experiences with them?

 

I used Hopes Grove Nurseries - excellent - http://www.hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk - ordered a mixed native species hedge mix - for an 18m long hedge at very reasonable cost. Definitely worth a look for the catalogue alone!

 

Pavel, I would agree with the others. Have a go yourself, and find out what you can. Check with the neighbours and see what they say. Make a list of the most common plants in your neighbourhood and then google to see what conditions they like. The link below gives some background to the subject. Check out the links at the bottom of that page. One tells you about analysing it yourself.

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/fred.moor/soil/formed/f0106.htm

The reason I say have a go yourself, is that that is the only way to learn.

Also make a rough plan of the garden, and go round the different area and work out if they are in full sun (I cannot remember the definition - it is something like 5 hours a day or over), part sun, light shade, and heavy shade. Also how wet the areas are. In my garden I have an area in full sun, but under a large tree - so it is usually pretty dry. Another part is partial sun and is the wettest part of the garden. Consequently I grow quite different plants in the two areas.