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What type of soil is this?

5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago

Managed to dig some on my new lawn.. Is this soil is good for any lawn? Link below..

My Lawn Soil

Featured Answer
  • 5 years ago

    I'm going to suggest two tests for your soil. One is free and the other will cost you $25USD plus postage.

    The jar test is free. Find a jar with straight sides. Fill it half way with your soil and place it on a table. Measure how high the soil is from the table. Fill the jar with water and a drop or 3 of shampoo or other liquid soap. Put the lid on the jar and shake and shake until everything is loose. Set the jar down and time 1 minute. A layer of sand and gravel will have formed on the bottom of the jar. Measure how high the layer is and let the jar sit for 1 hour. After an hour another layer will have formed. Measure the height of that layer. Let the jar sit for a day and measure again to the top layer that has formed. The top layer will be clay. The middle layer will be loam. The bottom layer is sand and grit. Use the measurements to determine the percentages of the three materials and use the following chart to determine what kind of soil you have.



    The second test is a soil chemistry test from Logan Labs in Ohio. Follow their instructions for digging the soil and sending it to them. Just get the standard test with no extras. They will email you the results a few days after receiving the sample. Don't be afraid to tell them where you live, as you have told me. They test soil from around the world. Once you have that test done, I know some guys who will tell you everything you need to know about the soil for the low low price of FREE. They have been doing this for years; handing out $200 worth of information for free. You can post your results here on this forum and I will help you from there. These guys will tell you what chemicals your soil needs, how much, when to apply, and how often.

    Comments (10)

    • 5 years ago

      Thanks @dchall_san_antonio. I am going to do the free test soon. Will update you the result. You are the man! The pro. 😊

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    • 5 years ago
      last modified: 5 years ago

      Hello @dchall_san_antonio, I managed to get a sample and get the test done. Seems like the soil is "Clay" type (40%-Sand, 20%-Silt & 40% Clay) based on soil chart. I believe my bermuda grass will strive through.. I will take more soil samples to confirm again.







    • 5 years ago

      I forgot to mention organic matter floating at the top the whole time. Most people don't have enough to mention, but yours is significant.

      How would you label those three pictures? What times were they taken?

    • 5 years ago
      last modified: 5 years ago

      Hi

      @dchall_san_antonio, I did check the organic matter, its about a quater inch (5mm) of layer.




      Pic 1 - Soil and water prior to test

      Pic 2 - 5 minutes after heavy shake

      Pic 3 - 2 days of idle

      Shall I repeat the test?

    • 5 years ago

      Since you already have the jar of dirt, give it another hard shake and take pictures at 1 minute and 1 hour. I suspect you have no clay at all, because the water on top after 2 days is crystal clear. Clay can stay in suspension and cloud the water for many days. The 1 minute pic will give you the sand and grit. The 1 hour will give you the loam. Whatever settles after that will be clay.

      Elan Ram thanked dchall_san_antonio
    • 5 years ago

      Hi @dchall_san_antonio, Thanks and I have updated with picture above on the top layer. I will repeat the test and update you soon. Thank you.

    • 5 years ago

      Hello @dchall_san_antonio, retest done.

      1 min


      1 hour


      1 day


      Means its not a clay type soil?




    • 5 years ago

      Yes. It is almost never clay soil. Usually it is excessive magnesium salts binding the minerals together.

      Are you considering the Logan Labs soil test?

      Elan Ram thanked dchall_san_antonio
    • 5 years ago
      last modified: 5 years ago

      Hi @dchall_san_antonio, thanks for the prompt response. Since, I am far away, I will not consider the lab test. I will try again with another sample from close area.

      So its looks like my soil is sandy loam type.

      Thanks for the guidance anyway. Was very helpful. 😊

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