A good soil for gardens is loam, which is a mixture of clay, sand and silt. The clay retains water and nutrients for plant roots. The silt and sand keep the clay from clumping together and allows the soil to drain well.

What soil is good for drainage?

The idea soil for most plants is loam (a mixture of sand, silt and clay). This type of soil is ideal because it allows the water to drain freely while still retaining nutrients and moisture.

Does silt absorb water well?

Clay Soil, because of its small particles and very tiny pore space, absorbs water at a rate of less than 1/4 inch per hour. … A combination of sand, silt, and clay particles, this soil absorbs water readily and is able to store it for use by plants.