Soil is the wonderful medium in which the majority of gardening is done! Soils are a large topic that are worth doing a deep dive into, this resource will provide an overview of key aspects of soil to keep in mind as a gardener.
Soils are organized into layers known as horizons, the top horizon is the organic horizon, that contains most of the organic matter within a given soil. Below the organic horizon are subsequent mineral layers that inform things like water movement and root penetration depth.
One of the most important aspects of soil for gardeners is soil texture and structure. Soil texture is comprised solely of the mineral parts of a soil, not the organic. The mineral components that comprise soil texture are sand, silt and clay. These terms refer to the size of mineral particles, with sand being the largest and clay being the smallest. The percentages of sand, silt, and clay in the overall soil texture. The more clay there is in a soil, the more water it will hold, and the most at risk the soil is to waterlogging. Sandy soils do not hold water well, and drain freely.
The best soils for gardening are in the sandy loam range of the soil textural triangle. These soils drain freely enough so there’s no waterlogging near plant roots, but they hold enough water to keep plant roots moist.
Another very important soil quality for gardeners is organic matter. Organic matter supplies much of the fertility of the soil, providing nutrients to your garden plants. Adding organic matter to your soils with compost, mulches, or cover cropping, are common methods used by gardeners to maintain the fertility of their soils long term.
Organic matter is lost in soils over time from mechanical disturbance (this exposes undecomposed organic matter to decomposition) and continual cropping. It is important for gardeners to be aware of how to maintain organic matter in their soils.
