Healthy lawns start with healthy soil, but not all soil is the same. Some hold water like a sponge, while others let it drain away in minutes. Knowing your soil type allows you to choose the right plants, water correctly, and fertilize appropriately for the conditions.
The best part is you can figure it out right at home with the squeeze, jar, ribbon, and drainage tests. In this article, I’ll walk you through each test so you know whether your lawn has sandy, clay, silty, or loamy soil.
1. Squeeze test
It’s the simplest way to find out your soil type. The squeeze test helps you tell whether your soil is too loose, too tight, or just right.
What you need: Garden trowel and spray bottle
How to do it:
- Dig 5 to 6 inches deep and grab a handful of soil from the ground.
- Moisten the soil so it’s like dough. Use a spray bottle for this so it doesn’t get too wet.
- Squeeze it firmly in your palm to see how it reacts.
What it tells you:
- If the soil falls apart immediately after squeezing, it’s sandy.
- Soil that keeps its shape but crumbles when you poke it with your finger is loamy.
- If the soil doesn’t crumble when poked, it’s clay.
2. Jar test
“The jar test uses sedimentation to separate soil particles by size,” says Clint Perkins, a soil scientist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. “Sand settles first, then silt, and clay takes the longest.”
What you need:
- Transparent container, like a Tupperware or Mason jar
- Garden trowel
- Water
- Dish soap
- Strainer
- Bucket
- Tape measure
- Marker
How to do it:
- Dig about 6 inches deep to collect soil from the root zone.
- Place a strainer over the bucket and push the soil through to break it up and remove any rocks or debris. You just need to sift enough to fill the jar halfway.
- Add water until the jar is about three-quarters full, then add a tablespoon of dish soap to help separate the particles.
- Close the lid tightly and shake the jar well for 2 to 3 minutes until the soil mixes thoroughly with water.
- Let the jar sit on a flat surface. After a few minutes, sand will settle at the bottom. Silt will settle in the middle after a few hours, and clay will form the top layer after 48 hours. Mark each section on the side of the jar with a marker.
- You’ll need to take a few measurements and do some simple calculations to find out the percentage of each layer. Measure the total height of the soil and then the height of each layer from the bottom of the jar. Plug those numbers into the formulas below:
Percentage of sand = Height of sand / Total height × 100
Percentage of silt = (Height of silt − Height of sand) / Total height × 100
Percentage of clay = 100 − (Percentage of sand + Percentage of silt)
What it tells you: If the layers are all nearly equal, you have loamy soil. If one layer is noticeably thicker than the others, that’s your dominant soil type.
3. Ribbon test
“The ribbon test is a quick way to identify soil type,” says Perkins. “Clay soils form long ribbons, sandy soils break apart quickly, and loamy soils form short ribbons that crumble easily.”
What you need:
- Garden trowel
- Spray bottle
- Measuring tape
How to do it:
- Dig about 6 inches deep and take a small amount of soil.
- Moisten the soil with a spray bottle, then roll it into a ball that’s about ½ inch in diameter, similar to kneading dough. Once the soil stops sticking to your hand, it’s ready for testing.
- Squeeze the soil between your thumb and forefinger to form a ribbon. Keep pressing it until the ribbon breaks. I recommend taking at least three samples to make sure a pebble or debris didn’t cause an early break.
- Measure the length of the ribbon.
- Take a small piece of the ribbon, place it in your palm, and add a lot of water. Rub it gently with your index finger in a circular motion to feel the texture.
What it tells you:
| Ribbon Length | Texture | Soil Type |
| Breaks immediately | Gritty like sugar | Sandy soil |
| Less than 1 inch | Smooth and slightly sticky like flour | Sandy loam or silt loam soil (balanced mix of sand, silt, and clay) |
| 1 to 2 inches | Sticky and holds its shape fairly well | Clay loam soil |
| More than 2 inches | Very sticky and firm | Clay soil |
4. Drainage test
Water drainage reveals a lot about your soil type. Sandy soil drains too quickly, while clay soil holds water for too long.
What you need:
- Shovel
- Tape measure
- Bucket
- Stopwatch or mobile timer
How to do it:
- Dig a hole that’s about 12 inches deep and wide. I recommend keeping the sides of the hole as vertical as possible so the water drains evenly.
- Fill the hole with water and let it drain overnight to saturate the surrounding soil. You’ll need approximately 5 gallons of water to fill this hole.
- Refill it the next morning and note the starting time.
- Time how long it takes for the water to drain completely.
- Use this formula to calculate the drainage rate in inches per hour:
Drainage rate = Initial water depth / Total time
For example, if the initial water depth is 12 inches and the hole drains completely in 9 hours, the drainage rate would be 1.33 inches per hour (12 / 9 = 1.33).
Perform the drainage test on level ground. “Slope can significantly affect drainage tests,” says Perkins. “On sloped ground, runoff can make soil appear less permeable than it really is.”
What it tells you:
| Drainage Rate (per hour) | Soil Type |
| More than 2 inches (fast drainage) | Sandy |
| 1 to 2 inches (good drainage) | Loamy |
| 0.5 to 1 inch (moderate drainage) | Silty |
| Less than 1 inch (slow drainage) | Clay |
FAQs
Yes, it can change slowly over time because of erosion or soil amendments. For example, adding compost to clay soil can help it drain better and gradually make it more loamy, while erosion can wash away silt, making the soil sandier.
Yes, it’s common for your yard to have different soil types, especially if there are slopes. Soil can vary even a few feet apart, so it’s a good idea to test samples from at least 10 spots before planting or adding fertilizer.
Compaction can significantly affect results, especially in the drainage and squeeze tests. When soil is compacted, water and air can’t move freely, which can make even loamy soil seem like clay.
“Compacted soil reduces pore space and slows water movement, which can give misleading drainage results. Always check for compaction and loosen the soil if needed before testing,” says Perkins.
Get to know your soil better
These simple DIY tests can tell you your soil type, but if you want to know exactly what your soil needs, I recommend sending a sample to your local extension office or a professional soil testing lab.
Identifying your soil type is just part of lawn care. You also need to mow, aerate, fertilize, and control weeds to keep your lawn in good shape. Lawn Love pros can take care of everything so your yard stays lush and healthy all year long. Hire a pro through Lawn Love today to get the job done right at a price you’ll love.
For more information on identifying your soil type, check out these articles:
- Guide to Different Soil Types
- How to Test Soil Moisture
- What Causes Compacted Soil?
- How to Change Your Soil pH
- How to Soil Test Your Lawn
- How to Fix Compacted Soil
- What Are the Different Types of Soil Amendments for Your Lawn?
Main Image: A homeowner inspects their soil. Photo Credit: Kannapat / Adobe Stock
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