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17 September 2014
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how to be a gardener - The complete online guide

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Gardening
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1 - Analysing your soil
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There are six main soil types:

  • Clay
  • Sandy
  • Silty
  • Peaty
  • Chalky
  • Loamy
Clay soil
  • Feels lumpy and sticky when very wet
  • Rock-hard when dry
  • Clay drains poorly
  • Few air spaces
  • Warms slowly in spring
  • Heavy to cultivate
  • If drainage is improved, plants grow well as it holds more nutrients than many other soils
Clay soil
Β©
Plant listsPlants for clay soil.
Sandy soil
  • Free-draining soil
  • Gritty to the touch
  • Warms up quickly in spring
  • Easy to cultivate
  • Dries out rapidly
  • May lack nutrients, which are easily washed through the soil in wet weather (often called a "hungry" soil.)
Sandy or gravelly soil
Β©
Plant listsPlants for sandy soil.
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1. Know your plot

Introduction
Assessing your plot
Analysing your soil
ΜύSoil types
ΜύSoil ph
Drawing a survey
Test your knowledge
Go further

Highlights
Plant lists Plant lists
Plants for different soil types:

Find thousands more plants in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Gardening database.
Video Video
Soil, what's it all about?
InteractiveInteractive
Test your knowledge of planting in different lighting conditions. Or find out how to test your soil.



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