Friable
(tilth)A term for
soil that breaks or crumbles easily when handled.
Tilth
(soil surface texture, friable)this is the texture of the
soil on the surface and to 5cm, where seeds
germinate. Ideally it should be weed and stone free, and crumbly. After heavy rain the surface can go solid, so raking helps to keep it nice and
friable. If you have rotavated new
soil, and have great big clumps, use a fork to break them up, then rake, and rake again.
Keep the stones to act as drainage in pots, and put the bigger clumps of
soil in a (reused
compost/wood chip) bag. Trample the contents and then put through a
soil sieve back onto the plot. In time the
soil will become a ‘fine
tilth’. It is really only seeds that need this fine
tilth, seedlings and plants can take much rougher ground, that’s why a
seed bed is a great idea if you have the space.