Small clay particles, on the other hand, pack together tightly so water does not drain as quickly through them. Squeeze a handful. Grab a handful of moist soil and squeeze it. Clay soil is slippery and oozes between your fingers. It holds its shape when you release it.
Sandy soil feels gritty and falls apart easily.
Loam soil holds together, but falls apart when you poke it. Try to make a ribbon of soil between your thumb and forefinger. Soils that won't form a ribbon contain at least 50 percent sand and only a little clay. Ribbons that break before reaching 2 inches long contain about 25 percent clay. Dig a hole.