One of the main factors in the success of your landscaping design plan and the health of your lawn is the type of soil you have. As a South Carolina homeowner, it is important for you to know the type of soil you have in your yard and what that means for your landscaping choices. Soil type can have a significant impact on your options for the plants and trees you have in your yard, and it can affect the health of your grass. You can find out about the type of soil you have in your yard with a simple test.
Once you know your soil type, you will be able to do certain things that will allow you to accomplish your goals. It is possible to improve your soil and make your yard a more hospitable place from which you can grow certain types of plants. It may be helpful to speak with your neighbors to learn about the types of soil they have and problems they may have with their current landscape design plans.
You can test your soil on your own. Add some of the soil from your yard into a big glass jar. Shake the jar well, then leave it to sit overnight. In the morning, you can determine your results:
- Cloudy water – clay and silty soils
- Clear water – sandy soils
- Gray water with floating fragments – Chalky soils
- Water with floating particles on top – Peat soil
- Fine particles floating on top of clear water – Loamy soils
The steps you will need to take to improve your soil will depend on the goals you have for your yard. However, most yards benefit from the addition of organic material, such as compost. As you consider what you need to do to for the health of your yard, it may help to speak with an expert.
At Pinestraw Place – Landscape Supply, we help homeowners identify problems that are standing in the way of them and their landscaping goals. If you believe that soil type could be an issue in your yard, you may benefit from speaking with an experienced member of our team. Contact our office to schedule a time for an in-person consultation and evaluation of your yard.
