Is Your Yard’s Soil Healthy? Here’s How to Find Out

Uncovering the makeup of your soil is the first step to achieving a thriving yard. As you might know, soil is made up of dead and living organisms, nutrients, water, air, and particles like sand, silt, and clay. And if you want grass or anything else to grow on it, keeping it balanced and healthy is key.

But how do you know if your soil is healthy or not? Well, there are many telltale signs, such as graying patches of earth and lack of growth. But you can also conduct a quick and easy test to see what your soil is naturally made up of—which can in turn help you determine how to treat it for better, fuller growth.

It’s called the mason jar test, and it’s as simple as following these steps:

Step 1

First, dig up some soil and fill the jar about half full. Add water, leaving about a half inch at the top of the jar.

Step 2

Let the mix sit until the soil has absorbed the water. Then give it a shake for two or three minutes.

Step 3

Wait at least a full minute, then measure the height of the soil that’s settled at the bottom. That represents sand.

Step 4

Wait another two hours and measure again. The additional settled soil is your silt. Wait a full 48 hours and measure once more. This represents the clay in your soil.

Step 5

If each of those measurements is 1 inch, for example, your soil is 33% sand, 33% silt, and 33% clay.

Step 6

If you find that the makeup of your soil deviates widely from the 40-40-20 ratio we describe here, you can take steps to reengineer it and optimize the ratio for a healthier mix.

If this doesn’t work for you, reach out to your local county extension office to request a soil test kit. It may even come with fertilizing suggestions that are perfect for your soil makeup too.