Problem Soil I moved from Indiana to Illinois approximately 4 years ago and am amazed at the difference in soil. I want a colorful layout that will last in full sun and would look nice in a bouquet for my kitchen table. From Crystal of Illinois Dear Crystal, In order to know what plants grow best in your area, you need to determine what type of soil you have. Soil is made up of mineral particles, organic matter, air and water. The three kinds of mineral particles are sand, silt, and clay.
Sand is the largest of the particles, clay the smallest.
It is fast draining, warms quickly in the spring, and allows root systems to establish quickly. Unfortunately, it also allows water and nutrients to be leeched away quickly, requiring frequent irrigation and fertilization to maintain plant health. Silty soil tends to be extremely dry, as water tends to run off before it can penetrate to the root system. Once it is saturated, it will retain moisture and nutrients longer than sandy soil. Clay shrinks and cracks when it is dry, but becomes heavy and waterlogged when saturated.