There are generally three main types of soil: sand, silt, and clay. Each type of soil has its own unique properties.
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Sand:
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Coarse texture
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Drains water quickly
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Poor water and nutrient retention
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Good aeration
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Warms up quickly in spring
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Silt:
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Medium texture
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Holds moisture better than sand
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Erodes more easily than clay
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Good nutrient retention
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Fairly good aeration
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Clay:
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Fine texture
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Poor drainage
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High water retention
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Nutrients may be trapped or held in excess
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Compacts easily
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Slow to warm up in spring
These properties of different soil types impact plant growth and determine which plants thrive in specific soil conditions.