How to Perform a D.I.Y. Soil Test
Before starting a new garden, or if you are having trouble with you plants in your established garden, it’s a good idea to figure out the composition of your soil.
There are three soil components – Clay, Sand, and Silt
Clay is the smallest mineral component. These tiny flat particles fit closely together to create the greatest surface area of all soil types. Clay soil contains needed nutrients and also stores water well. So well in fact, that drainage is slow in clay soil. It is also the slowest to warm in the spring.
Sand makes up the largest particles in soil structure. These are rounded, rather than flat and allows for larger space between the particles. Water drains quickly from the soil that has a lot of sand and the nutrients drain faster too. If your soil is mostly sand the plants will need more water and fertilizer.
Silt represents the middle size pieces. It is made up of rock and mineral particles that are larger than clay but smaller than sand. Individual silt particles are so small that they are difficult to see. To be classified as silt, a particle must be less than .005 centimeters (.002 inches) across.
The combination of these three particles is called loam and is considered the ideal garden soil. Knowing how close (or far) you are from loam will help you decide what amendments to make this spring planting season.
The Mason Jar Soil Test
1 Use a clear, clean, empty jar with a tight lid. A pint or quart Mason jar works fabulously.
2 Fill the jar about half full of garden soil. You can use soil from different areas of the garden to get an overall view or make a test for each garden bed.
3 Fill the jar nearly to the top with water. Leave room for shaking.
4 Tighten the lid and shake the jar for several minutes so that all the particles are in suspension.
5 Set your mason jar soil test aside for several hours, so the particles have a chance to settle. They will separate into clay, silt, and sand layers.
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