Child's play: the finger test
You can easily determine the soil type yourself: Simply reach out and do the finger test: To do this, rub some soil between your fingers or the palm of your hand.
There are three broad categories:
If the soil can be molded, rolled, and kneaded between your fingers, and it feels smeared, it is a heavy, nutrient-rich clay soil. The soil particles are so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye; they adhere well to one another, but they also bind water and nutrients so tightly that they are sometimes unavailable to the plants. This high water-binding capacity causes the soil to swell and become waterlogged during persistent moisture, which causes many roots to simply rot. A lack of oxygen also contributes to this. During periods of drought, the soil becomes so compacted that it damages the fine roots, creating entry points for pathogens.
If the soil literally slips through your fingers, is impossible to shape, and barely leaves any marks on your hands, then it's definitely sandy soil. The soil particles are coarse and can barely retain water, so it dries out quickly in the summer. This type of soil is considered highly permeable and light. This is especially noticeable when working the soil with a cultivator or digging fork. Furthermore, sandy soil is naturally nutrient-poor.
The third category is the popular happy medium between the other two extremes. This type of soil is called silt soil; the soil particles are small enough to retain water and nutrients, yet large enough to release both to the plants when needed. The soil is also well-oxygenated, which promotes root growth.
