Know Thy Soil With This Simple Jar Test
Hoping to plant a garden this spring?
Knowledge of your soil will help tremendously and one of the easiest
ways to discover the composition of your soil is through this simple jar
test. (I already knew I had sandy soil before this test, but I didn't
realize how little clay I was working with.)
Difficulty: Easy
First, grab a quart-sized mason jar
and a shovel and head to the area of your yard where you plan to have
your garden. Dig a small hole, removing as much grass as possible from
the soil. Fill the jar 2/3rds full with the soil.
Next, fill the jar up to just below the neck with water.
Give the jar a good long shake.
Allow the jar to sit undisturbed
for at least a week. The larger particles will settle faster but it
takes more time for the fine, clay particles to settle. In fact, the
longer the jar sits, the more detailed the layers will be. From here
you can decide how you need to mend your soil for planting.
