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  Geefrank defines silty soil

You Have Silty Soil? Great!

Silty soil is a soil structure between clay and sand that has some of the best features of both. Particle size is larger than clay, but not more than 1/500 of an inch or about 0.06mm in diameter.

Found mostly in river valleys, its particles are small enough to be easily carried away in high water situations, and then deposited down stream in these valleys when flood waters recede.

It is dense enough for good water and nutrient retention, yet it drains well enough to be easy to work and provides good air circulation to plant roots. It is not sticky like clay when wet and remains soft and friable when dry. It makes good gnome burrows , too.

While easy to garden in and usually very fertile, it is rare. If you order topsoil brought in, silt is sometimes available, so ask.

You’re a lucky gardener if your garden soil is mostly silt. It is almost as valuable as loam, which is the gold standard in garden soils. Loam soil is even more rare and less available for purchase.

As with all soils adding organic matter can only make your garden more productive.

Happy gardening,

Geefrank


Learn more about Clay Soil

If you have Sandy Soil

If you have Loam Soil

Why you must add Organic Matter to your soil

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