6 Soil Tests With Your Hands. No Kit. No Lab. No Waiting. 30 Seconds Each. 1. The Squeeze Test: Sand crumbles. Clay holds. Loam crumbles on a poke. 2. The Ribbon Test: Under 1 inch is sandy loam. 1-2 inches is loam. 2+ inches is heavy clay. 3. The Worm Count: 10+ worms per shovelful indicates healthy biology. Under 5 means soil needs organic matter