Will Replacing My Soil with Loam Help?

Those that have problematic soil might be wondering what can be done about soil washout. The most obvious answer might be to hire a landscaping expert and replace the sandy soil on your yard with a more stable soil. However, replacing your soil might not give you the results you want.  

• Why Replacing Your Soil Won’t Work 

If you look it up, loam soil is considered to be the least problematic soil of all. It’s an equal mix of sand, silt, and clay soil. It doesn’t have enough clay to experience severe shrink-swell, and it’s not as shifty as sand soils. This makes it seem like a perfectly balanced soil capable of combating the worst of erosion. However, you should know that loam is mostly used in farming and not for property landscaping. 

The characteristics of loam soils make them perfect for growing crops in undisturbed fields where their exposure to water is closely monitored by the farmers. A residential property is completely different. Human activity greatly alters the way loam soils behave. Not to mention, cities like Appomattox, VA and Baltimore, MD experience flooding on a regular basis. Despite the equal amounts of silt, sand, and clay, loam soils are still susceptible to washout when faced with large streams of water.  

• What You Can Do Instead 

Instead of replacing your soil, you can do something a lot less expensive and a lot more efficient instead. Contact your local experts to know what your options are for yard drainage, foundation waterproofing, and concrete slab repair. Equipping your home with the proper tools will raise the value of the property and give you long-term peace of mind. 

Mitigating the damage caused by soil washout is a lot more effective than trying to prevent it altogether . Arm yourself with knowledge so that you’re able to identify the signs of soil erosion. Once you notice that something is off on your property, you’ll be able to take action before things get worse.