How Do You Make Sandy Loam Soil?
Well-drained, nutrient-rich, sandy, loam soil is the ideal soil for gardening. However, few gardeners are blessed with perfect soil. Soil can be too sandy, composed of heavy, dense clays, or be too acidic. Soil often lacks the vital nutrients necessary for healthy plant growth. Don’t despair. Garden soil can be greatly improved by adding organic materials and intense tillage. Test the soil to determine nutrient content and pH levels. To prepare a soil sample, dig multiple test holes across the garden plot or landscape in a checkerboard pattern. Dig a hole 6 to 8 inches deep. Disregard the soil from the hole. Move back 1 inch from the diameter of the hole, take a clean 1-inch slice of soil 6 to 8 inches deep and place in a plastic bucket. Proceed to dig additional test holes in the same manner, placing each 1-inch slice of soil in the bucket. Mix all the soil samples together well in the bucket, breaking up clods and removing rocks and roots. Spread the mixture out on a layer of newspap
