What is the best kind of soil to grow a beautiful garden?

Alberta asks, “What is the best kind of soil to grow a beautiful garden?”

Technically, the type of soil depends on the plant you plan to grow. Succulents and cacti like a gritty soil that drains easily. Some plants, like Azaleas, like an acid soil, and plants like Lilacs and Clematis prefer an alkaline soil.

But for most gardeners a good loose soil mixed with lots of organic material, like composted leaves, is ideal. Many people have hard clay that is wet in the spring and hard and dry in the summer, making it a challenge to grow anything. Mixing sand and composted material will transform the clay to a medium that most plants will be happy with.

There are home kits to test the type of soil is in your garden. But as a general rule, good soil is rich in organic material and crumbles when you squeeze it. Also, an abundance of earth worms is a good indicator you have good, healthy soil!