A Look at the Soil
There are two common types of soil; light and heavy. Light soil is light in weight, not light in colour and of a rather coarse texture with large particles – of sand chiefly – containing large air spaces which prevent them from packing tightly. Large air spaces assist with the free passage of water which in times of drought gives rise to very rapid drying. Heavy soils are composed of very fine particles which pack closely together. They hold moisture readily, and very quickly become caked and sticky, or when dried out set into a cement-like lump.
To improve light soils, moisture-holding materials such as cow or pig manure, or old leaves and compost, should be incorporated. Artificial fertilizer should only be used during the active growing season, for if applied during winter the rain will almost certainly wash it out of the soil before it has an opportunity to work. Regular hoeing during the summer assists with retaining moisture, while surface mulches of old leaves or rotted lawn mowings around individual plants are most beneficial.
Heavy soils, conversely, require lightening and opening up. This can be done by digging in quantities of straw, strawy manure, sand, grit, clinker or indeed any other material of a coarse texture. On clay soils with a relatively low alkalinity, hyd-rated lime can be used. When spread evenly over the soil surface and then lightly raked in it causes flocculation of the clay particles – the collecting and separating of colonies of tiny particles which under the physical influence of the lime form larger particles, which in turn makes the soil lighter.
Soils of many varying textures and constituents exist, such as peaty, alluvial, marl, and others too numerous to consider, but all can be classified with some degree of accuracy under the heading of light or heavy. However, apart from visible physical characteristics there are those unseen, particularly acidity and alkalinity, which are of equal importance but more difficult to ascertain. A pH test – obtainable in kit form from the local garden shop – has to be employed to determine the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. The theory and reasoning behind this is complex and irrelevant at this stage, but it is sufficient to say that a pH of 7.0 indicates a neutral soil, one higher, say of 8.0 alkaline, and those of lower numerals acid. Careful observation of local wild flowers will also yield much information.
Where heather, foxgloves and sorrel flourish the soil is invariably acid, but where vetches, cranesbills and old man’s beard thrive then it will almost certainly be alkaline. These conditions can have a marked effect upon plant growth; where such conditions may pertain.
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