Trying To Identify soil type.

I read up on a method and attempted it, I personally don't know what I was looking for and really wasted my time. I was told of another method of digging up a select amount of soil and stirring it around and letting it settle for some time. A while later I go and check, it's all settled, I've had a look and I believe it's gravel/clay, sand and then silt, I'm unsure though. I would really appreciate some help here, as I said I'm really just guessing. Thank you.

 

The heavier particles settle out first, so the grit then the sand and so on. Clay has the smallest particles and forms the top layer or doesn't settle at all. Organic matter tends to float. The purpose is to see the different proportions the different particle sizes make up. I think you have a fairly well balanced mixture in your photograph.

 

What type of soil would you say it is? Also, I didn't include the top of the water because I didn't think it was relevant to my question, however it had another layer floating on top of the water and this covered the surface, with which you have told me is organic matter. I understand that organic matter is very important but how little or how much is good or bad I don't know. As always Nigel you've been a star.

 

Thank you, extremely helpful, the information is pretty down to a tee too, at least in aspects that I actually know about. It says my soil is Loamy some clayey, slightly acidic and fertility is almost max. If you have the time, do you have any suggestions on whether I should/n't improve my soil and what I can/could do? Don't know if you saw one of my others post but I'm trying to get back into the rhythm and my grandad dealt with soil and fertilizing while I was strictly planting as he called me Green Fingers as I manage to plant things he couldn't.

 

Pretty much agree with what has been said.
However, now do a PH test.....vital to know if your soil is acid, neutral or alkaline. Easy and cheap and quick test to do The soil in your garden may not necessarily be the same as that elsewhere in your area.
Goku, in the autumn can you add manure, compost, mushroom compost etc., to your soil? Adding this "bulky" stuff is so beneficial.

 

I haven't a clue as to where to buy a ph test, I had a look around and almost everywhere people were saying the tube tests were unreliable which is why they're cheap.

 

No, they are reliable. Any garden centre, DIY or even online Goku. They are cheap because they are not complicated.
They tell you your soil type, ph wise, and then you will learn what you can and cannot grow.
Have FUN with your testing and your garden

 

Thanks and you too. I'll pick one up when I get some more gardening equipment and give it a shot then, thanks!