Clay is the primary source of nutrients for the plants and for storage of long term water. Clay is the primary source for nutrients because clay carries a negative electrical charge while most of the beneficial nutrients for the plant carry a positive electrical charge. This allows clay to hold these nutrients on their surface ready for the plant to liberate them for their use. The fourth and final layer we will see is the organic matter and it will have all shapes and sizes. Some of the organic matter will be laying on top of the clay while some will still be floating.
Organic matter is that part of the soil that can make or break a garden.
This soil constituent provides nutrients, water holding ability, tightens sandy soils but also loosens clay soils. Organic matter is nothing more than compost material like grass clippings, leaves, rotten hay and a nitrogen source like manure. When these are mixed together and allowed to cook they make soil right before your eyes. While this process can be a long drawn out affair there are composting processes that take as little as 30 days from start to finish. Now that we know what our soil is made of what is the perfect soil for the garden.