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We can find soil in lots of different places because it's really important for almost all plants. Soil helps plants stay upright and it contains important substances to help them grow. In this guide, we're going to look at the different types of soil.

Soil is a mixture of tiny particles of dead and rotting plants and animals, rock, air and water. Take a closer look at what soil is made from in this video.

Different soils have different properties depending on what they are made from.

• Sandy soil is pale coloured and has large particles. These create lots of small air gaps. Water drains through them easily so it usually feels dry.
• Clay soil is usually sticky and has small particles. They contain very few air gaps and water does not drain through it easily.
• Chalky soil is a light brown soil. Water drains through it quickly.
• Peat does not contain any rock particles. It's made from very old, decayed plants and is dark, crumbly and rich in the useful chemicals that plants need called nutrients.

Soil contains lots of minibeasts (tiny animals which don't have a backbone) and microorganisms (which are too small to see).

Time to go outside and find some soil!

1. Take a spade (or even a spoon) to your garden, the nearest park or field with a member of your family.
2. Find some soil and dig a small amount up.
3. Looking at the soil, try to explain what type of soil it is and why.