Among those factors are proper soil pH and internal drainage, which Owings says are very important. Owings and LSU AgCenter horticultural associate Robert Trawick say it also is important to know what soil texture you have.
Soil texture refers to the size of individual soil particles.
For example, sand particles are the largest and make a soil coarser, and clay particles are the smallest and make a soil finer. A good soil texture for landscape beds is a silt loam, the LSU AgCenter horticulturists say. Adding sharp sand and some form of organic matter is recommended when amending clay soils. Adding organic matter is recommended only if amending a sandy or loamy soil, he says. These first steps will allow for the opportunity to correct soil drainage and improve soil texture.