Soils & Mulch

Soil Analysis

You don't have to be a soil scientist to analyze your soil. By following the steps below you can easily verify what kind of soil is on your property. This will be very helpful in determining what plants will do best on your home landscape and what steps you may need to take to improve the quality of your soil.

To figure out what soil type you have try this quick test. Pick up a handful of moist but not wet soil and squeeze it. Open your hand, if the soil stays together and retains its shape you have clay soil. If the soil falls apart when you open your hand, you have sandy soil. If the soil stays together when you open your hand but then starts to slowly fall apart, you have loamy soil.

Living in York Region your soil will most likely be one of two types: sandy or clay.

Sandy soil has a larger percentage of sand than clay or silt. This type of soil can dry out quickly. You will need to add compost or other organic matter to this type of soil to help it retain enough moisture for most plants.

Clay soil has a larger percentage of clay than silt or sand. This is the most common type of soil in York Region. This type of soil can become very hard and dry when moisture is lacking and can become very compacted when wet. There are plants that thrive in clay soils. However, adding organic matter to this type of soil will help create a soil base that will allow most types of plants to grow well.

Use the pictures below to help identify the type of soil you have in your garden.

Amending Soil with Compost

A simple way to improve your soil quality regardless of soil type is to add compost. Adding compost to your soil will increase the presence of organic material improving water retention and adding nutrients to your soil. If you want to do your own composting, a backyard composter can be purchased at local garden centres and at specialized compost facilities. Composters are also available for purchase at most municipal offices and the McCleary Court Community Environmental Centre. Click here to learn more about composting and where you can purchase a backyard composter.

Adding Mulch

Mulch is a vital component of a water-efficient garden.

To mulch effectively, cover all exposed soil to a minimum depth of approximately five centimetres (two to three inches) with any type of mulch, although organic types are recommended. This will prevent water loss from the soil due to evaporation. Regardless of the types of plants you have in the garden, using mulch can reduce your garden's water needs by up to 70 per cent. An added bonus of mulch is that it controls weed growth, and helps to control soil temperatures. Weed seeds need  contact with the soil to spread through your garden. Covering all of your exposed soil eliminates that contact, preventing weed growth. Mulch also helps to moderate temperatures during hot or cool periods through this same blanket technique. This moderation will cause less stress to the roots, resulting in stronger, healthier plants.

Types of Mulch:

• Small to large wood chips will break down over time to add nutrients to your soil
• Shredded wood chips will break down over time to add nutrients to your soil
• Cocoa bean shells will break down very quickly to add nutrients to your soil  (*toxic to pets)
• Decorative rocks or stones will conserve soil moisture and prevent weeds but will not break down and will not add any nutrients to the soil

You can also mix tree leaves and compost into the soil which will help the soil to retain moisture through absorption. This action will not prevent water loss due to evaporation and will not control weed growth.