Clayey

• Clay soil is the finest type of soil. Often nutrient rich, clays can hold water. The downside is they may hold too much water and not provide enough air for plant roots.
  
  

Silty

• Silty soils can be a problem, containing particles that feel like flour. When silty soil becomes wet, a crust can form that prevents root movement.
  
  

Sandy

• Sandy soil is the coarsest soil useful for growing. It has a lot of drainage and air, but the water can drain nutrients with it. Stone and gravel soils have even larger particle sizes than sand.
  
  

Loam

• Loam is a mix of sand, silt, and clay minerals, made mostly of sand, with clay the least represented. Loams are considered the "best of all worlds" for growing.
  
  

Peaty

• Peat soils have few minerals but a lot of organic material. The lack of minerals also means a lack of some nutrients important to plants, such as phosphorus and potassium.
  
  

Acid to Base

• Soils can also be classified according to pH from very acid to base or alkaline. The majority of plants like a pH that is a bit acid, hovering a bit below pH 7, which is neutral.