Lawn Sprinkler Systems: Knowing Your Soil

Lawn sprinkler systems are very important in maintaining lush and beautiful lawns. A good mix of sunlight and the right amount of water can make or break your lawn project. However, many people tend to forget another basic need of lawn grass, and that is the soil. Different types of soil will affect how you manage and maintain your lawn. It can also determine which types of grass and plants can thrive on your lawn.

There are many considerations when looking at your yard's soil, such as the acidity.For now, we'll look at the general classifications of soil. Although soil can be classified into many different categories, here are the most common types of soil you can find:

Loamy Soil
If everyone had loamy soil in their yards, then gardening would be so easy. This is the kind of soil that contains just the right amount of minerals and provides natural drainage and is considered the ideal environment for growing your grass and flowers.

Clay Soil
Clay soil tends to clump together so if your soil feels a bit lumpy, there's a big chance that you have clay soil. The clumping of clay soil spells bad news for any plant that wishes to grow because lumpy soil means a lesser amount of air and water available in the soil. This also means that the available amount of nutrients for your plants are also lesser. Another issue with clay soil is drainage. With clay soil, you might find the need to install your own drainage and use fertilizer to make up for the lessened amount of nutrients available.

Silt Soil
Silty soil usually offers a good growing environment for grass because it is usually rich in nutrients. This type of soil can usually be found near rivers. However, care must be observed when dealing with silty soil. This kind of soil can be packed together easily when pressed down, choking off any air and water from it.

Sandy Soil
The good news is you wont have any drainage problems if you have sandy soil in your lawn. However, the excellent drainage it provides also means that a lot of the essential nutrients are also easily washed away from the soil. There are specific types of grass which can thrive on sandy soil with the help, of course, of fertilizers.

Looking into the type of soil you have can help you choose which type of grass can grow beautifully on your lawns, as well as the special care it would need in maintaining it, including the amount of water and whether artificial drainage is needed. Using tailor-made lawn sprinkler systems can also be a big help in maintaining your yard.