What is the difference between peat and loam

Post by Miggity » Wed May 15, am. Post by ryeguy » Wed May 15, am. Privacy Terms. Skip to content. Quick links. Board index Discussions Cool Season Lawns. I know many use peat moss to cover their seed. Also known as heavy soils, these are potentially fertile as they hold nutrients bound to the clay minerals in the soil. But they also hold a high proportion of water due to the capillary attraction of the tiny spaces between the numerous clay particles.

They drain slowly and take longer to warm up in spring than sandy soils. Clay soils are easily compacted when trodden on while wet and they bake hard in summer, often cracking noticeably. These soils often test the gardener to the limits, but when managed properly with cultivation and plant choice , can be very rewarding to work with Sandy soils have high proportion of sand and little clay.

Also known as light soils, these soils drain quickly after rain or watering, are easy to cultivate and work. They warm up more quickly in spring than clay soils.

But on the downside, they dry out quickly and are low in plant nutrients, which are quickly washed out by rain. Sandy soils are often very acidic Silt soils , comprised mainly of intermediate sized particles, are fertile, fairly well drained and hold more moisture than sandy soils, but are easily compacted Loams are comprised of a mixture of clay, sand and silt that avoid the extremes of clay or sandy soils and are fertile, well-drained and easily worked.

They can be clay-loam or sandy-loam depending on their predominant composition and cultivation characteristics Peat soils are mainly organic matter and are usually very fertile and hold much moisture.

They are seldom found in gardens Chalky or lime-rich soils may be light or heavy but are largely made up of calcium carbonate and are very alkaline Where building or landscaping has mixed up different soils, it can be very difficult to tell what type of soil you have, and it may change markedly over a short distance.

Different soil types in vertical section - from top to bottom - loamy, sandy, clay, soil enriched with organic matter. Identifying your soil type The best way to tell what type of soil you have is by touching it and rolling it in your hands. It cannot be rolled to make a sausage shape. If it is not a coarse sand and perhaps a sandy loam it may stick together better Clay soil has a smearing quality, and is sticky when wet.

It is easily rolled into a long thin sausage and can be smoothed to a shiny finish by rubbing with a finger. They have a slightly soapy, slippery texture, and do not clump easily If soil froths when placed in a jar of vinegar, then it contains free calcium carbonate chalk or limestone and is lime rich.

Working with your soil Now you know what type of soil you have, you can start to work with it and improve it. Clay soils Clay soils are rich in nutrients and very fertile if their cloddiness can be broken up by the addition of organic matter.

Sandy soils These light soils are usually low in nutrients, and lose water very quickly being particularly free-draining. Silt soils These soils are made up of fine particles that can be easily compacted by treading and use of garden machinery. Chalky soils Chalky soils are alkaline, so will not support ericaceous plants that need acid soil conditions. Problems Certain soil types are prone to particular problems.

See also LandIS: Interactive soil maps. You may also like. Chalky soils. Chalky soils: plants for. Clay soils: plants for. Gardening on wet soils. Both compost and loam are sold in large bag oscillating from 3 to 50lb in weight.

The price can vary greatly depending on: 1 the brand, 2 the usage topsoil or gardening soil , 3 the origin manure compost or food scrap compost , and 4 the presence or not of chemical organic is way more expensive these days.

Surprisingly, in the UK , I never found soil and compost in large chains like Tesco, or Sainsbury, and they definitely not online. Aldi and Asda do sell soil and compost.

However, you need to be careful on the customer review to be sure the quality is what you want. Otherwise, you can always refer to your closest garden center. Both compost and loam soil alone are inadequate for herb growth. Indeed, loam soil has a great structure but insufficient nutrients, while compost does not provide the minerals and structure stability plants need. The earth-like and beautiful structure of compost might be so tempting that you might think to use only compost for your potted plants.

Please, do not do it. Many people made the same mistake and ended up with dying plants in a couple of weeks. This because the water retention capability, although excellent, might be a double cut if the whole medium is a sponge. Moreover, as said before, compost is lighter than loam soil, so unable to provide adequate stability to your herb. Another point against a compost only medium is that plants strive with a balance of a dozen nutrients that are not all present, in the required amount, in the compost.

This soil I am not talking here of the commercially available garden soil, but only of purely loam soil is not enough for plant growth. It just lacks both nutrients and presents an insufficient water retention capability. Compost is currently produced by thousands of people around the world in the comfort of their house.

Indeed, if correctly done, composting the act of creating compost is relatively straightforward. It just requires attention to what is decomposed some food scrap like animal and dairy-related should be avoided and patience. The process indeed usually requires a few months a few shortcuts can be applied if you need.

Loam soil, on the other hand, is not that easy. Moreover, you need to remember that loam soil is mainly used for outdoor applications. I did not found so far anyone suggesting such soil for indoor gardening. Indeed, for indoor gardening, it is way better to rely on a non-soil potting mix as described in this article in which compost is one of the ingredients.

Does the composting process attract pests? If done incorrectly, the composting process can attract pests such as flies, large insects, and even rats. Is topsoil and loam soil the same thing? No, topping soil do present sand, silt, and clay but their proportion might not match the loam soil and, more importantly, garden soil presents also another medium to improve pH, nutrients and other chemicals to prevent pests that loam soil does not have.

The three soil type. Perhaps you have cacti that have been growing in those lovely and cute small planters. I love them, but they are not the best for them. Indeed, without you knowing, your cactus is already suffering.

You need to take action now! Repot a cactus when 1 the roots start coming out of the container, or…. Starting seeds in soil is an easy to do approach if you know what you are doing. Forget the basics, and you will end up with rotten seeds or wasting time. Here a step by step guide with photos on what to do and how.