Soil Types in the UK – a Handy Guide

 

The UK enjoys some of the most variable soil conditions in the world. The varied climate, plus the way the ground developed millions of years ago, mean that there are many different types of earth – which can produce very different growing conditions for gardeners across the country.

Here Madingley Mulch identify the six principal soil varieties, what plants grow well in which type, and how we can help make your soil more fertile thanks to the range of soil conditioners and improvers we stock at our base on the outskirts of Cambridge.

 

Chalky Soil

Chalk soils have a high alkaline content and may      contain stones (or flints). In the UK these soil varieties are mainly found in areas with high deposits of calcium or limestone, such as the South Downs, the Yorkshire Dales, and the Chiltern Hills – not usually the East of England. They account for just 5% of all UK soil.

They are also very free draining and difficult to keep fertile. This means it may be better to stick to plants which thrive in this sort of earth – such as lavendula, geraniums and clematis – rather than trying to improve the soil.

 

Loam Soil

This is a fertile soil which is made up of organic matter mixed with clay, sand and silt. It is possible to have variations – for example, a sandy loam soil has higher proportions of sand, while a clay loam has more clay.

Loam soil is fertile, contains a lot of organic matter which provides essential nutrients to plants, promoting healthy growth and development. Additionally, loam soil has a balanced pH level, which further supports nutrient availability. It also promotes healthy root growth, is easy to work with, and is less likely to suffer long-term damage through high winds and storms – it’s a balanced soil where all the particles knit together well.

It is good for growing most plants, including vegetables and fruit trees – although sadly it’s not that common in Cambridgeshire and across East Anglia, even though it’s found in around a third of all the UK’s gardens.

 

Sandy Soil

This type of soil is found in around a fifth of the UK, and mainly in coastal areas. It should fall through your fingers easily and will also drain quickly after rain or watering. However, because it doesn’t retain moisture very well, you are best to opt for drought-tolerant plants (geraniums, buddleija, conifers and some fruit and vegetables) – all of these will need very little watering once they become established.

The other option is to improve the soil – organic matter such as leaf mould or tree bark will increase the alkaline content of the soil (it’s usually very acidic to start with), which will improve the growing conditions.

 

Silt Soil

Silt soils account for around 15% of the UK’s total, and they are mainly found in valleys and lowlands. Like sandy soils, they are quite light and can easily be damaged by heavy wind and rain.

You can either compact the soil by stepping on it or using a hand or machine tool; the other solution is to grow something in it. The best plants to grow in this type of ground are trees such as willow, birch and cypress, and most fruit and vegetables, if the drainage is good enough.

 

Peat Soil

This is found primarily in Scotland and the North and like chalk, is found in around 5% of the UK’s gardens. It is acidic, contains high levels of organic matter, and is very good at retaining moisture. Plants which grow well in this type of earth include rhododendrons, heathers and azaleas.

 

Clay Soil

Most soils in the East of England, including the Cambridge area, and around a quarter of the UK as a whole, are heavy in clay – usually at too high of a concentration to be considered a clay loam. Clay-heavy soil retains water and nutrients very well – in fact almost too well, as it’s slow to drain and prone to becoming waterlogged.

The best plants you can grow in it (without any artificial assistance) include roses, pears, plums and other similar flowering plants. Fortunately, though help is at hand – in the form of a variety of soil conditioners and improvers we stock at Madingley Mulch.

 

Checking Your Soil Type

You can buy a testing kit which will determine whether your soil is acidic, alkaline or neutral (and so which of the above categories it is likely to belong to). You can also do a ‘squeeze test’ – roll some moist soil into your hand and see how it behaves.

If it’s a clay soil, for instance, then it will form a sticky ball which will hold its shape. Sandy soil crumbles quickly and will feel gritty; silt soil will form a smooth ball and will crumble apart under any sort of force.

 

Soil Conditioners in Cambridge from Madingley Mulch

We stock 6mm horticultural grit, which will help break any clay soil down. Our spent mushroom compost and our two exclusive products, Tony’s Tonic and Denise’s Delight, will all help as they add valuable nutrients to the soil. For our full range of soil conditioners and improvers, click here.

And if you want to grow grass on top of your soil, then you should consider our lawn top dressing mix, which we supply in Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk as well as Cambridgeshire. This loam blend includes sharp sand and peat that will encourage grass, whether it’s being grown from turf or seedlings.

If you need to place a bulk order, remember we can deliver to you. Our regular areas include Newmarket, Huntingdon, Royston and Saffron Walden, but we can arrange for deliveries further afield. For more details, click here.

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