Ten facts about clay:
1. There are 3 main types of soil: clay soil, sandy soil and loamy soil.
2. Clay and sand are effectively opposites, with loamy soil being ideal for the growth of plants.
Where sandy soil is made up of visible grains, clay soil is much finer, with the individual grains
much more difficult to discern.
3. This alignment is the reason that clay feels slippery, as the grains slide almost without friction
against each other.
4. While most clay soil is inorganic, it can also be found as sedimentary deposits that have eroded
from other locations and mixed with organic matter as it was transported.
5. Organic clay mixtures are darker in color, and are often streaked with darker lines formed by
layers of decomposed plant matter.
6. clay can be used to define garden borders, preventing excess flooding during heavy rains, and
channeling the garden drainage to the desired location.
7. Clay forms a natural barrier to moisture, and can be used as the central fill for berms, dikes or
small dams.
8. Clay can be formed into different shapes, and fired or baked.
9. Clay soil is unique in that it can retain moisture, making conditioned clay excellent for use in dry
climates.
10. clay soils offer an almost optimal support for bushes, shrubs and trees.