Do the mason jar test to identify soil texture

Fill a quart mason jar one-third full with garden soil (remove debris), add water to near the top with a tablespoon of dish soap or Calgon as a dispersing agent, shake vigorously, and set on a level surface. Sand settles in 1 minute, silt in 2 hours, clay in 48 hours. Measure each layer to calculate your sand/silt/clay percentages.

Why It Works

Different particle sizes settle at different rates due to weight. Sand is heaviest and drops first; clay particles are smallest and take days. Knowing your texture tells you whether your soil drains too fast (sandy), holds too much water (clay), or is close to ideal loam (~40% sand, 40% silt, 20% clay). Oregon State University Extension publishes this as a standard home soil analysis method.

Tips

• Using a dispersing agent (Calgon or sodium hexametaphosphate) significantly improves accuracy by preventing clay particles from clumping
• This method tends to underestimate clay content compared to lab hydrometer analysis
• High sand means you need organic matter for water retention; high clay means you need organic matter for drainage
• Repeat in multiple garden areas — texture can vary across a single yard