garden soil types Your garden's soil can affect the success of your plants, so it's important to match the correct soil type to your conditions. Your soil will usually be 1 of 3 common types.
Find out which type you have by taking a piece of soil the size of a golf ball (removing any stones) and roll this piece into a 'worm' shape...
|  |
|
 |
 | Clay soil types form this shape easily and when rubbed turn shiny.
You can find plants for this soil type in our planting lists/borders - using this icon. |
|
|
|
|
 | Loam soil types will be crushed easily in the palm of your hand.
You can find plants for this soil type in our planting lists/borders - using this icon. |
|
|
|
|
 | Sandy soil types will not form this shape, they simply fall apart.
You can find plants for this soil type in our planting lists/borders - using this icon. |
|
|
"Most gardens have the same soil throughout, but larger gardens may have different soil types in different areas. Check the soil in several places, and if different source plants to suit each soil type."
|
|
|
garden sunlight conditions Your garden's sunlight can affect the success of your plants, so it's important to match the correct sunlight type to your conditions -so each plant has the best chance of thriving once planted.
Your garden's sunlight will usually fall into 1 of 3 common types...
|  |
|
|
 | For borders in your garden that normally receive Full sun light for the majority of the day - this is usually true for south-facing situations. You can find plants for this sunlight type in our planting lists/borders with this icon. |
|
|
|
|
 | Part Sun and Part Shade borders get full sunlight for half the day or dappled sunlight all day - usually true for east/west facing situations. Find plants for this sunlight type in our planting lists/borders with this icon. |
|
|
|
|
 | For borders normally in Full shade, receiving little sunlight for the majority of the day. This is usually true for north-facing situations. You can find plants for this sunlight type in our planting lists/borders with this icon. |
|
|
|
|
"Many borders have different sunlight levels depending on where they are in the garden. If your borders have different sunlight levels, source plants to suit that location, so each plant matches it's locations sunlight level."
|
|
|
