UNDERSTANDING SOIL TYPES: WHAT’S IN YOUR GARDEN?
Before you dig, plant, or plan—know your soil.
The success of your landscape or garden doesn’t just depend on sunlight and water. Soil is the foundation. And in Oklahoma, soil can vary greatly from one yard to the next.
Why Soil Type Matters
Different plants thrive in different conditions.
Good soil provides proper drainage, nutrients, aeration, and a stable environment for roots. If your soil is too sandy, plants may dry out. If it’s full of clay, roots may suffocate. Understanding your soil helps you:
• Choose the right plants
• Improve growth and bloom performance
• Avoid wasted time, water, and money
The 5 Main Soil Types
1. Clay Soil
What it feels like: Sticky when wet, hard when dry. Rolls into a ball easily.
Traits:
• Holds water well (often too well)
• Poor drainage
• High in nutrients
• Can compact easily
Best plants: Daylilies, asters, black-eyed Susans, swamp milkweed, viburnums
Tips: Add compost or gypsum to loosen texture. Avoid overwatering.
2. Sandy Soil
What it feels like: Gritty, falls apart in your hand.
Traits:
• Drains quickly
• Warms up fast in spring
• Often low in nutrients
• Requires frequent watering
Best plants: Lavender, yarrow, Russian sage, agave, coreopsis
Tips: Add organic matter (compost or peat moss) to hold moisture and nutrients.
3. Loamy Soil
What it feels like: Soft, crumbly, holds shape briefly when squeezed
Traits:
• Ideal texture
• Holds moisture and drains well
• Rich in nutrients
• Easy to work with
Best plants: Almost anything! Most vegetables, perennials, annuals, and shrubs love loam.
Tips: Maintain with compost yearly to keep it rich and balanced.
4. Silty Soil
What it feels like: Smooth, slippery, like flour
Traits:
• Holds water well
• Rich in nutrients
• Can compact and lead to poor drainage
Best plants: Willow, iris, bee balm, Japanese maple
Tips: Mix in sand or compost to improve drainage and prevent compaction.
5. Chalky Soil (Less common in Oklahoma)
What it feels like: Stony or powdery, often pale
Traits:
• Alkaline (high pH)
• Drains quickly
• May stunt some plant growth
Best plants: Lilac, dianthus, clematis, weigela
Tips: Use soil amendments to balance pH if needed.
How to Test Your Soil at Home
You don’t need a lab to figure out your soil type.
The Jar Test:
1. Fill a clear jar with 1/3 soil and 2/3 water.
2. Shake and let settle for 24 hours.
3. Observe the layers: sand settles at the bottom, silt in the middle, clay on top.
Want a more detailed analysis? We recommend using Oklahoma State University Extension Service for a soil testing.
Soil Amendments We Recommend
• Compost: Adds nutrients and improves all soil types
• Peat moss: Helps sandy soil hold moisture
• Perlite or coarse sand: Improves drainage in heavy soils
• Gypsum: Helps break up compacted clay
• Worm castings or organic fertilizer: Natural nutrient boosters