Which Soil Is Best for Planting?

The ideal planting soil is ultimately determined by the plants that are going to live in it. A mix of organic material and loose, sandy granules will satisfy most plants, but there are also hardy plants that thrive in less than perfect soils.

Soil that is composed of medium-sized sand particles and rich in organic material is the best medium for growing the majority of plants. The sand granules keep the soil from compacting too much, enabling water and air to reach the plant roots. Decayed or decaying plant and animal matter contribute to the nutrition needed for the plants to grow. This type of soil is rare in the homeowner's yard, but it can be created.

More common is a soil composed of varying proportions of sand, clay and stone that is determined by the gardener's geographic region. The construction process often leaves a gardening area scraped near the bedrock layer and then backfilled with the earth that was removed. With the addition of organic materials for nutrition and inorganic material to relieve compaction, the top soil of most regions can be turned into a favorable gardening medium.

Pure clay soils are friendly to certain plant species, but they are a difficult medium in which to grow most plants. Clay tends to hold water for long periods, or dry out completely and become hard. Water and air find it difficult to penetrate the compacted material. Sand creates the opposite environment. Water drains straight through the granules, leaving little opportunity for roots to search it out. It also lacks the organic nutrients necessary for growth, making sand appealing to a limited number of species as well.