Sandy soils have a particle size of between 0.02 and 2 mm and the particles are visible to the naked eye. They drain quickly, and as a result, plants aren’t given enough time to absorb nutrients. It goes without saying that sandy soil isn’t much of a welcoming media for plant life (except maybe weeds).
If you have sandy soil, do not despair. It is a problem that’s easily solved. It needs work more than other soil types but if done right you will have a garden that will give you a great deal of satisfaction.
Organic Matter in Sandy Soil
The important thing to remember with sandy soil is that organic matter is essential to retaining water and nutrients for plants. It improves soil texture by settling between the large sand particles and plugging the spaces.
A one-time application of organic matter won’t ensure fertile ground for succeeding years, with the exception of lawns, which are modified at the time of laying the turf or sowing the seed.
For gardens and plots with sandy soil, you need to add humus annually, several months ahead of the planting and in a series of applications. This will allow the soil to stabilise and be colonised by beneficial microorganisms such as mycorrhizae which is needed by 95% of all plants.
The best source of organic matter for sandy soil is green manure, fast growing plants that are equally quick to rot down. Plants like clover, vetch and oats, tilled and turned over–enhance the soil with necessary plant food. Manure such cow and pig manure is effective because they are sticky. Other sources of manure also include poultry manure, peat moss, compost, old sawdust, straw, native peat and other garden refuse, although be careful that you are not just introducing a stock of weed seeds and pests and disease. The aim is to add about 6cm (2 inches) spread across the surface of the soil to create about 10 to 15 cm (5 to 6 inches)of total surface soil when mixed. Do not be tempted to dig the added humus in too deeply.
Again it is important to remember that the soil will need time to settle down before planting so the work ideally should be carried out early in the season.
It is also essential to feed plants and applications of fertiliser should be added in the spring and summer.
Once the garden has been planted and beginning to establish at the appropriate time of the year future applications of organic matter can be done around perennials and the immediate root zone of shrubs and trees.
Mulching Sandy Soil
Mulches help the soil retain water during hot, dry seasons. Since the big problem with sandy soil is the rate of water loss, applying mulch after transplanting and when the plants are all ready growing will have obvious benefits. A layer of mulch 5cm (2 inches) deep could also be applied annually, in late autumn when plant growth has stopped, particularly for perennials and shrubs. I will cover mulching on a separate page and recommend you give it a read.
Mulches help the soil retain water during hot, dry seasons. Since the big problem with sandy soil is the rate of water loss, applying mulch after transplanting and when the plants are all ready growing will have obvious benefits. A layer of mulch 5cm (2 inches) deep could also be applied annually, in late autumn when plant growth has stopped, particularly for perennials and shrubs. I will cover mulching on a separate page and recommend you give it a read.
Watering Sandy Soil
Since sandy soil is a poor medium for water storage, watering plants more frequently and at shorter intervals will go a long way in keeping soil moist. Soaker hoses and drip irrigation systems have shown best results and more frugal use of water for this soil type.
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