What Is Loamy Soil Used For?

Identification

• Loamy soil is soil that has a balanced mixture of organic matter, clay and sand. It is neither hard and claylike, or porous and sandy. Loamy soil is usually dark in color, with a texture the consistency of chocolate cake. It has a rich, earthy smell, indicating the presence of organic matter. Squeeze it in your hand, and it holds together, but it crumbles easily if you tap it. Loamy soil holds water, but drains well. Soil is evenly moist after watering.

Uses

• A gardener lucky enough to have loamy soil uses it to grow all plants, including vegetables, flowers, shrubs, lawns and trees. Some plants are more particular about soil quality than others. Vegetables, for example, grow quickly during the space of one season and must have good quality soil to produce a plentiful crop. Many perennial flowers and roses grow best in well-draining, loamy soil. If you have a limited supply of loamy soil, use it in vegetable and perennial gardens first.

Amendments

• Loamy soil is a rarity in many parts of the U.S., but it is possible to improve the soil that you have over time. Spread 2 inches of compost, moistened peat moss or manure over the soil and till it in to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Sprinkle a thin layer of untreated grass clippings in the vegetable garden during the summer. The grass clippings slow weed growth and also break down into nitrogen-rich soil amendments. Mulch perennial beds with 2 inches of wood chips, which prevent soil erosion and eventually break down. Building good garden soil takes three to four years or longer, depending on the original structure of the soil.

Considerations

• Loamy soil is the best type of soil for almost all plants grown in-ground outdoors. However, it is not ideal for containers because it is heavy and may contain pathogens. Use a potting mix for container plants. When buying topsoil, visually inspect it first and ask for a list of any soil amendments. Topsoil isn't necessarily loam. It may be sandy or heavy, depending on where it came from and which amendments have been added.