How to Check Soil Texture

Collect 1 ½ cup sample of garden soil in a clean plastic container. Spread soil on an old newspaper and remove rocks, sticks and other debris. Break up clumps with hands until soil sample is smooth and free of foreign matter.

Pour 1 cup of the smoothed soil into a glass quart jar. Use a measuring cup and fill the jar with approximately ¾ oz. water. Add 1 tsp. of powdered, non-foaming dishwasher detergent. Place the lid on the jar and shake vigorously for 15 minutes to break up particles and evenly distribute them in the solution. Let jar sit in an undisturbed area for 24 to 72 hours.

Check the jar after 1 minute to determine the amount of sand in the soil. Use a ruler and permanent marker to mark the level on the jar. After two hours, mark the amount of silt, which is on top of the sand, in the jar. Examine the jar for clear water and settled clay particles. This process may take until 72 hours. Once it occurs, mark the level of clay on the jar. Avoid measuring the amount of clay in the soil until all particles have settled and the water has cleared. These fine particles take time to settle.

Measure the total amount of sediment in the jar. Use a calculator and calculate the particle’s percentage by dividing the measured amount of each layer by the total amount of sediment, converting the decimal to a percent. For example, if the total sediment amount is 4 inches and the silt amount is 1 inch, divide 1-by-4, which equals .25. Convert the decimal of .25 to 25 percent. The soil sample contains 25 percent silt. Ideal soil texture contains 40 percent sand, 20 percent clay and 40 percent silt.