Healthy gardens always start below the surface. Soil Foundations is where we explain how soil actually works — in plain language, without unnecessary jargon.
In this section, you’ll learn about the main soil types found in UK gardens, how soil structure affects roots, why soil pH matters, and how water, air, and organic matter interact underground. We also explore the living side of soil — worms, microbes, and fungi — and why they are essential for long-term plant health.
Whether your garden soil is heavy clay, free-draining sand, or something in between, understanding these basics helps you make better decisions and avoid common mistakes. Everything else on SoilCare builds on the knowledge shared here.
Soils are one of the most important natural resources on Earth. Beneath our feet lies a complex world of minerals, water, air and living organisms. Soil supports ecosystems, stores carbon, filters water, and even affects how the land responds to the weather. In the United Kingdom, the climate plays a huge role in how soil…
What Lies Beneath the Surface It often surprises gardeners that two gardens on the same street can behave very differently. One lawn stays green through summer while the next struggles. One flower border drains quickly after rain while another remains wet for days. Even when plants, watering, and care are similar, results can vary sharply….
Soil is often talked about as if it were a simple thing. In reality, it is one of the most complex and influential parts of any garden. Two gardens growing the same plants, receiving the same rainfall, and cared for in similar ways can produce completely different results. In most cases, the reason lies beneath…
Why Knowing Your Soil Type Matters More Than Any Fertiliser Garden success rarely begins with fertiliser, compost, or plant choice. It begins with understanding the soil already present beneath your feet. Two gardens can receive identical care and still perform very differently, simply because their soils behave in different ways. Soil type determines how quickly…
Garden soil across the United Kingdom is incredibly diverse. Two gardens just a few miles apart can behave very differently, even when planted with the same crops and cared for in similar ways. This difference is rarely caused by the gardener alone. In most cases, it comes down to the type of soil beneath the…