Whether you're in the middle of a garden, lawn care, or landscaping project, having the right type of loam can make all the difference when it comes to improving the quality of your soil. Both types of loam are beneficial for adding nutrients to your yard's soil, yet knowing which to choose can make all the difference when it comes to the health of your plants and how much they grow. In this piece, we’ll explain the primary differences between screened loam and standard loam, so that you can choose the right option for your yard.
What is Loam?
Before we dive into the comparison, however, it helps to understand exactly what loam is and why it’s such a popular material in landscaping. Loam is mostly sand, silt, and clay in similar ratios. This mix is the ideal loam, providing just the right consistency: It drains while holding just enough moisture for plant success. Loam is generally nutrient-rich, meaning it is great for growing all types of plants, from grass to flowers to vegetables.
What is Screened Loam?
Screened loam basically means loam that has been passed through a screen to eliminate larger particles, rocks, sticks, and other debris. The motor works like a giant sifter, producing a finer consistency soil. Sifted, screened loam is perfect for projects where you want a smooth, clean finish, like with garden beds, lawns or leveling out an area of earth.
It is the main type of soil that can be relied on its gradations. It makes a smooth, work-friendly surface, without big clumps or foreign materials. That way, your plants will have the best environment to thrive.
What is Regular Loam?
Regular loam, in contrast, has not been screened through a screen, and thus holds larger particles and organic matter. Whereas normal loam will still balance sand, silt and clay well, it may contain more rocks, sticks or other debris that can prove a bit of a tricky for gardeners. The loam in many cases is used when there are large fill projects that are being conducted primarily to complete the process of filling an area, such as leveling a yard or filling in low spots in the ground itself.
While regular loam does remain a good medium to drain and retain moisture, the larger particles interfere with delicate flowers and vegetables. It’s often where it’s most better suited for projects where soil aesthetics and ease of working with the soil aren’t as important.
Joint Venture Loam Vs Regular Loam: Key Differences
Texture and Consistency
It differs from regular loam most in its texture. Loam that is screened is finer and more uniform because it has been sifted. It is perfect for forming flat surfaces, filling in potholes or enhancing garden beds. Regular loam, with its coarser particles and debris, can be more difficult to use, especially with smaller or more delicate plants.
Suitability for Planting
For these reasons, when planting flowers, shrubs or vegetables screened loam is the preferable choice. Its fine, consistent texture ensures deeper penetration of roots and more effective absorption of water and nutrients. Conversely, normal loam, despite being more useful for basic yard work, has bigger particles that could impede root growth, which can make it inappropriate for delicate planting.
Ease of Use
Loam is often screened to make it easier to work with, particularly when leveling or grading the soil. This is perfect for establishing a clean, smooth seedbed for sod, seeding or planting. Regular loam can have larger rocks or organic matter that make it more difficult to spread evenly or incorporate into the soil.
Cost and Availability
Regular loam is generally cheaper, and you may find it in a larger quantity. It’s usually for larger landscaping projects, such as filling in, grading or leveling ground. Screened loam, which is more polished, tends to cost slightly more. But it’s worth the added expense if you want a smoother, cleaner finish on small jobs or on surfaces where aesthetics and plant health are priorities.
When to Choose Screened Loam
If you’re building a new garden bed, leveling a lawn, or doing a project that needs a clean, smooth surface, screened loam is your best bet. It's fine and lightweight, making it suitable for planting and its stable includes means that your plants have the best chance of survival.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both screened loam and regular loam offer their benefits and the choice is ultimately yours to make based on the project you are working on! When compared with raw loam for fine control, smooth to touch finish, healthy planting, screened loam is the ultimate hero. But for large projects where looks and usability aren’t as important, standard loam is a great economical choice. Whatever you go with, you’ll need to make sure you’re getting the right variety of loam for your yard and that will put you on the road to a successful landscaping project.
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