Do you know your soil type?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by JWK, Oct 31, 2011.

  1. nFrost

    nFrost Head Gardener

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    'Freely draining lime-rich loamy soils'...

    20140708_203738.jpg

    I'm assuming (hoping!) this year (our first) was a one off. :fingers crossed::fingers crossed::fingers crossed:
     
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    • merleworld

      merleworld Total Gardener

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      "Slowly permeable seasonally wet acid loamy and clayey soils" with low fertility. Sounds about right.
       
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      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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        I've just had a more detailed look at mine. Once I zoomed in as far as it would go it appeared to cut my garden in two!

        The West side is: Lime rich, loamy, clayey soil with impeded drainage - High fertility

        The East side is: Slightly acid, loamy, clayey soil with impeded drainage - Moderate to high fertility

        Our acid loving plants are in the West side :doh: :hate-shocked:

        It also said we have Arabs on our grass! :yikes: :lunapic 130165696578242 5:
         
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        • Sheal

          Sheal Total Gardener

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          Do we assume then that the rest of us in Britain......

          1. Haven't got any soil.
          2. Have perfect soil so we don't need to make use of the above link.
          3. Or the University is still working on the rest of the country.
          :doh::heehee:
           
        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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          None of the above :lunapic 130165696578242 5:
           
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          • "M"

            "M" Total Gardener

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            Nah: it means ...

            ... we are the *chosen* ones ;) :love30::love30::love30:
             
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            • ARMANDII

              ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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              300 to 400 feet of sand topped by around 18" of top soil and around 35 years of compost being added to it, so a hungry fast draining soil which is very slightly alkaline.:coffee:
               
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              • philomel

                philomel Pottering in SW France

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                What a great resource, thanks JKW! If only this had been available when I was gardening in England....
                It's such a shame there's nothing like it - or at least I haven't found anything - in France. Although I think I know mine - heaviest clay possible with very impeded drainage lol
                 
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                • Sarah Giles

                  Sarah Giles Gardener

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                  That's really interesting! My home garden is slightly acid clay with impeded drainage, whereas my allotment is on more loamy slightly clay soil with free drainage. :D
                   
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                  • Phil A

                    Phil A Guest

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                    Accidentally clicked just off the map :doh:

                     
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                    • Sheal

                      Sheal Total Gardener

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                      I have no idea whether my soil is alkaline or acid although it's sandy. I've not felt the need to test it as I can generally guess what will grow in it and I don't mind a bit of trial and error along the way. :)
                       
                    • Phil A

                      Phil A Guest

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                      You'm probably tending towards acidic Sheal, with Granitic bedrock and sand. I guess there's a few Gorse bushes on the island.
                       
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                      • Sheal

                        Sheal Total Gardener

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                        I think you're probably right Zigs. I have a feeling it's bordering acidic to neutral. Gorse bushes run riot here as in Ireland, they're such devils to get rid of too!
                         
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                        • Trunky

                          Trunky ...who nose about gardening

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                          Don't half go up quickly if you set fire to 'em though. :whistle: :runforhills:
                           
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                          • Phil A

                            Phil A Guest

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                            Have you got Sundews and Bog Cotton too? :)
                             
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