Brown =
0-12
inches
(0-30
cms)

Blue = 12-24 inches (30-60 cms)

Green = 24-36 inches (60-90 cms)

Red = 36-72 inches (90-180 cms)

Black = 72+ inches (180+ cms)

Wet Soil

Dry Soil

Brown =
0-12
inches
(0-30
cms)

Blue = 12-36 inches (30-90 cms)

Green = 36-60 inches (90-150 cms)

Red = 60-120 inches (150-300 cms)

Black = 120+ inches (300+ cms)

Wet Soil

Dry Soil

Brown =
0-240
inches
(0-600
cms)

Blue = 240-480 inches (600-1200 cms)

Green = 480+ inches (1200+ cms)

Red = Potted

Black = Use in Small Garden

Wet Soil

Dry Soil

Blue = 0-36 inches (0-90 cms)

Green = 36-120 inches (90-300 cms)

Red = 120+ inches (180+ cms)

Wet Soil

Dry Soil

Blue = 0-24 inches (0-60 cms)

Green = 24-72 inches (60-180 cms)

Red =
72+ inches (180+ cms)

Wet Soil

Dry Soil

The most important requirements for any plant is which pH in which Soil Type it prefers:-

• the required nutrients from the topsoil rather than the subsoil,
• air flow through the soil for the roots to breathe in the oxygen and for the roots to breathe out carbon dioxide - The carbon content stored in soil is eventually returned to the atmosphere through the process of respiration, which is carried out by heterotrophic organisms that feed upon the carbonaceous material in the soil. Since plant roots need oxygen, ventilation is an important characteristic of soil. This ventilation can be accomplished via networks of soil pores, which also absorb and hold rainwater making it readily available for plant uptake. Since plants require a nearly continuous supply of water, but most regions receive sporadic rainfall, the water-holding capacity of soils is vital for plant survival.

so that the above is available for that plant in the following acidic or alkaline soils:-

• Acid Type for Lime-Free Soil, Acid Clay Soil, Acid Sand Soil or Acid Peaty Soil,
• Alkaline Type for Chalk Soil, Alkaline Clay Soil, Alkaline Sand Soil or Alkaline Peaty Soil,
• Any for both of Alkaline and Acid Soil Types.

In chemistry, pH is the negative log of the activity of the hydrogen ion in an aqueous solution. Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline. Pure water has a pH of 7.

This means that we can split garden soils into the following:-

• Plants for Any Soil ,
• Plants for Chalky Soil ,
• Plants for Clay Soil ,
• Plants for Lime-Free Soils ,
• Plants for Light Sandy Soil and
• Plants for Peaty Soil

pages to see which soil or soils are in your garden.

These are some of the different border types due to different Sun Aspect (Full Sun, Half Shade, Full Shade) levels and Moisture (Dry, Moist, Wet) levels in the soil:-

Desert Border
Rock gardens and raised beds provide good drainage and make an ideal showcase for small plants and alpines in full sun.

Damp Border
Bog-garden plants like permanently moist soil. Some will even grow in very shallow water at the edge of a pond or stream.

Shady Border
Damp Shade occurs in a cool, humid woodland environment, where the soil is reliably moist all year.

Dry Shade
Dry Shade is where the combined problems of shade and drought are often found by walls, and beneath thirsty, shallow-rooting trees.

Full Shade
Full Shade occurs where permanently shaded positions may be beneath evergreen trees, by high walls, and between tall buildings. Use plants and structures in light colours to help brighten those areas.

Sunny Border
Sunny areas occur where there is no shade from structures or plants for most of the day.

Dry Sun on Slopes /Banks
Dry Sun is where situations prone to drought are in full sun. These include steeply sloping banks with rapid drainage, the base of a warm south- or west-facing wall; and shallow, sandy, or stony soils.

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