Soil Testing: The First Step Before Planting Any Sapling

Most customers who come to Bozdağ Fidan first ask “what should I plant?” — but the right question is “what does my soil suit?” Planting without knowing the soil’s texture, pH and drainage capacity can lead to failure even with the hardiest species.

Understanding Soil Texture

Your soil may be sandy, clayey or loamy. A simple test: squeeze moist soil in your hand. If it forms a ball that won’t break apart, it’s clay; if it won’t hold any shape, it’s sandy; if it forms a loose shape that crumbles easily, it’s ideal loam.

Why pH Matters

Most ornamentals and fruit trees prefer a pH range of 6.0–7.0. Soils around Ödemiş tend to be slightly alkaline, which can cause iron lock-out in acid-loving species such as hydrangea or azalea. Simple home soil test kits can measure this accurately.

The Drainage Test

• Dig a hole about 30 cm deep.
• Fill it with water and let it drain once.
• Fill it again; if the water drops less than 5 cm in an hour, drainage is poor and you may need a raised bed or a drainage line.

Improving Soil Before Planting

Adding organic compost benefits nearly every soil type: it aerates clay and improves water retention in sand. Digging the planting hole twice the width of the root ball helps the roots spread more easily into the new soil.

Conclusion

A gardener who knows their soil chooses the right species and saves on unnecessary fertiliser and treatments. Our Bozdağ Fidan team assesses your soil on site for free and gives you a tailored species list.