Corona's Principles of Planting How to Guide

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Soil types and amendment tips:

Clay soil Clay particles are the smallest component

in soil, less than .002 mm in size. These particles

clump together to make a heavy, sticky, water-

retentive growing medium. To improve clay soil, add

organic matter: compost, planting mixes or well-rotted

manure. Finely crushed rock worked into clay soil will

also help to improve drainage.

Sandy soil Sandy soil holds few nutrients because the

sand particles do not adhere together so water drains

through quickly taking any available nutrients with it.

Leaving plants poorly irrigated or nourished. Again,

the best amendment is compost and well-rotted

manure or vegetable matter material. That provides

and stores essential nutrients for plants, and also

helps hold moisture in the plant’s root zone. You can

improve sandy soil over time with annual applications

of 3 to 4-inch layers of organic compost on the top of

the soil.

Loam This is the gardener’s dream; rich, ﬂ uffy,

moisture-retaining, microbe-friendly and easy to work.

Loam is a balanced combination of sand, silt, clay and

vegetable matter (such as decomposed leaves, bark

and manure). Not only does loam readily absorb water,

its greatest attribute is that loam retains moisture,

and nutrients that are then readily available to plants

making for healthy, vigorous growth.

Don’t be misled: Some advise that it is possible to

amend soil to create acid, or alkaline, conditions. But

it requires a lot of amendments applied regularly, and

so is expensive and ultimately doomed to failure. Work

with what you have.

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