Soils come in massive variations so sometimes it’s hard to know which soil is the best for your plants or vegetables. In this article, we will be going through different types of soils so your greenery can thrive. So, what soil is the best for you?
What Soil Is The Best For You?
Clay
Clay soils tend to consist of over 25% clay and therefore are heavy so cannot drain as well as others can. If you have noticed that water pools on your land rather than filtering into the soil; there is a high possibility that you have clay soil.
This type of earth can contain many more nutrients than others but is not the best for growing plants as it makes it tough for the roots to grow.
Sandy
Sandy soil is composed of mostly sand particles and odd parts of clay. Unfortunately, they dry out very quickly in the summer and tend to be low in plant nutrients but there are certain flowers that thrive in this earth due to it’s acidic PH and dryness. Examples of these would be, Lavender, Adam’s needle, Butterfly Weed and Rose of Sharon!
Silt
Silt soils have many different particles which are fertile and can drain well. In comparison to sandy soils, silt can hold more moisture, but it can also be easily compact like clay! Most vegetable and fruit crops thrive in this type of soil alongside yellow iris and Japanese iris.
If you’re struggling to know which soil you have or want to know in more depth about what nutrients are in your soil then contact us today and we can conduct a soil analysis test to discover all the characteristics of your earth.
Native Newts In The UK
Native Newts in the UK are typically found in ponds and their surrounding boggy areas. They’re most commonly discovered in the spring and summer- will you be on the look out for them this season? Here’s what to seek for:
Great Crested Newt
This specific species is protected by law in the UK. This means you cannot own or sell them and cannot disturb them or their habitat. Great crested newts have a rough, dark brown appearance with bright orange blotches on their underside. Males of this species have crests along their back with a white tip whereas females have a yellow tip.
Smooth Newt
A smooth newt is also a protected species but is the most commonly found newt in the UK. Typically, smooth newts are brown in colour and can grow to a length of 10cm. Both sexes of this newt have orange under belly’s and possess small black spots.
Palmate Newt
The final native newt in the UK is the Palmate newt which are most frequently found in shallow ponds on acid-rich soils. The appearance of this species is immensely similar to that of the smooth newt; however, the most identifiable difference is that the spots on the Palmate do not continue under their throat. Instead, this feature comprises of either a plain pink or a yellow colour.
Contact Us Today:
If you are looking to apply for planning and are unsure if you are situated in a protected area, then you may require an ecological survey! In this case, get in contact with us today where we can discuss all of your options.
If your proposed development includes ponds or is near aquatic habitats, Great Crested Newt (GCN) surveys may be a requirement. We offer eDNA (environmental DNA) testing, a non-invasive and efficient method to detect the presence of GCNs in a waterbody. This test is often required as part of planning applications to comply with local authority and Natural England guidelines. The eDNA sampling season typically runs from mid-April to the end of June—so don’t delay if you think you might need one!
To find out more about how ProHort can help you, get in touch with us by calling 01782 479 479or email us at [email protected]. Alternatively you can message us on Facebook.
Planting Trees Next To A Building – Don’t do it!
Carefully planting a tree on your property can add beauty to the surrounding area. However, if you get the placement wrong, it can have a huge negative impact on neighbouring properties. Thinking about planting trees next to a building? Here’s why you shouldn’t…
Structural Damage
When a tree is growing, the roots underground also spread. As these are not visible, it can be dangerous as you are not aware of the length that the roots are reaching to. Some tree roots can lift paving and also cause damage to buildings, such as cracking.
As well as this, tree branches can also cause damage to a roof or other parts of a property, predominantly if they fall down in a storm.
Drain Damage
Tree roots often proliferate where there is a supply of water which can cause them to extend into building drainage. This can cause a drain blockage leading to further destruction to your property.
Litter
If you are considering whether to plant a tree on your property, then it is wise to pick one that will not create too much litter. For example, some trees will drop messy fruit or shed seed pods, leading to messy surroundings that need frequent upkeep.
How to safely plant trees
When planting a tree, make sure you choose one that is to the right scale for your property. A typical rule used for planting is that a tree over 70ft tall should be at least 20ft away from a property and small trees under 30ft should be at least 8-10ft away from a building.
Root Barrier Designs are specialised membranes that can inhibit the root progression of living trees. However, what are they used for?
Most trees have a very large root system that are not visible to us above ground. The problem with this is that, as a tree grows, these roots can begin to uplift pavements or cause damage to properties. When creating or paying for hardscaping, the potential destruction that could be caused by tree roots is often not a thought but can be painful to witness if it ever does happen.
Although there is nothing that solves this issue completely, a root barrier reduces the risk. If the roots were ever to grow back, they would be smaller and weaker; highly decreasing the probability of damage to infrastructure.
A root barrier needs three things to be effective:
To be UV resistant.
To be deep, below the root system.
To protrude above the ground level slightly.
To measure how well a root barrier is installed, a root barrier design is implemented. This identifies where the membrane would be laid and at what depth, taking the spread of the tree roots into consideration. It would also consider the health of the tree and any existing or planned landscape features.
If you are in need of or want to know more about a root barrier design to protect your property, then please get into contact with us today!
