Understanding the Soil Beneath Our Feet

Part 2 of 4

What's Really in Your Soil?

Concho Valley Conditions

July 12, 2026

Soil Temperature (1:00 PM): 105°F
5-Day Average Soil Temperature: 96.7°F
Year-to-Date Rainfall: 11.83 inches
Rainfall Compared to Average: +0.28 inches

With soil temperatures approaching 100°F, Bermuda grass is actively growing and soil microorganisms are working at a rapid pace. Even though we often focus on what we see above the ground, a tremendous amount of activity is taking place below the surface.

Soil Is Much More Than Dirt

Last week we began our July series by looking at why San Angelo's soils are different from much of Texas.

Whether you read that article or not, today's question is simple.

What is soil actually made of?

Many people use the words soil and dirt as if they mean the same thing.

They don't.

Dirt is simply soil that has been moved from where nature intended it to be.

Soil is a living system.

It supports every lawn, tree, shrub, flower, and garden in West Texas.

Four Basic Ingredients

Healthy soil is made up of four basic ingredients.

Minerals
Water
Air
Organic Matter

It is also home to billions of living organisms including bacteria, fungi, insects, earthworms, and plant roots.

Every one of these plays an important role in building healthy soil.

If one ingredient becomes limited, plants begin to struggle.

The Three Mineral Particles

The mineral portion of soil is made up of three particle sizes.

Sand

Sand has the largest particles.

Water moves through it quickly, and roots receive plenty of oxygen.

The downside is that sandy soils don't hold much water or many nutrients.

Silt

Silt particles are smaller than sand.

They feel smooth and soft, almost like flour when dry.

Silt holds more water than sand while still allowing good drainage.

Clay

Clay particles are the smallest.

They hold large amounts of water and nutrients because of their enormous surface area.

Many soils around San Angelo contain significant amounts of clay.

Clay can be a tremendous advantage because it stores moisture during our hot West Texas summers.

However, when clay becomes compacted or stays too wet for too long, water movement slows and roots receive less oxygen.

Clay itself isn't the problem.

Poor soil structure usually is.

Roots Need Air Too

One of the biggest misconceptions in lawn care is that roots only need water.

They also need oxygen.

Healthy soil contains thousands of tiny spaces called pores.

Some pores hold water.

Others hold air.

After a lawn is watered, many of those spaces fill with water.

As the soil gradually drains, oxygen returns to the root zone.

If soil stays saturated too long, roots become stressed because they cannot get enough oxygen.

Healthy roots require both water and air.

Organic Matter Is Often the Missing Piece

West Texas soils are naturally low in organic matter.

Our hot climate causes organic materials to break down quickly, and our relatively low rainfall limits how much organic material is added back into the soil each year.

Organic matter helps improve:

Water infiltration
Water-holding capacity
Soil structure
Biological activity
Nutrient retention

Even small increases in organic matter can improve soil health over time.

Why This Matters

Everything you see above the ground begins below it.

Healthy soil supports healthy roots.

Healthy roots support healthy plants.

When we understand what soil is made of, we make better decisions about watering, fertilizing, aerating, and choosing the right plants for our landscape.

Healthy lawns don't happen by accident.

They begin with healthy soil.

Science Behind the Soil

Soil Texture

Soil texture describes the percentage of sand, silt, and clay in a soil.

Texture develops over thousands of years and changes very little.

What we can improve is soil structure, which is how those particles are arranged.

Good soil structure creates space for water, air, and roots to move freely.

Poor soil structure leads to compaction.

We'll take a closer look at that next week.

Looking Ahead

Part 3 of 4

Why Doesn't Water Soak Into Every Lawn the Same Way?

We'll discuss:

Soil compaction
Water infiltration
Surface runoff
Wetting agents
Hydrophobic soils
Why proper watering is about more than just applying water

The more we understand the soil beneath our feet, the better we can understand everything growing above it.

Thank You for Reading

Thank you for allowing BES-TEX Supply to be part of your lawn and landscape success.

Our goal is simple: provide practical, science-based information that helps homeowners and professionals make better decisions.

If you enjoy these Weekly Insights, please share them with a friend or neighbor. If there's a topic you'd like us to cover in a future article, let us know. We're always looking for questions that help our entire community learn.

Next Sunday: Why Doesn't Water Soak Into Every Lawn the Same Way?