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Vermont Green MTN State

My very good friend has sandy soil in her area. I told her I would try to help fix the problem. Every year she digs holes where she is going to put her plants and fills them full of good stuff. She says the next year it seems all the good stuff just keeps filtering through the soil and leaving only sand. It just washes away. Have any tips on how I can help her mend her garden soil?

2/25/2004 12:42:19 PM

Commack, NY

Just keep adding lots and lots of organic matter. it will build up eventually. The soil where i had first started my patch used to have a pool on it.....you wanna talk about sandy! in 6 years i got it up to 13% organic. It takes time, but eventually she'll get there.

2/25/2004 1:36:28 PM

Bemidji, MN

Have her add peat to the soil. It won't run off and is great for water retention in sandy soil.

2/25/2004 2:17:41 PM

add organic matter....
moisten the peat and mix it in though, otherwise it'll BLOW off.... also keep in mind that peat lowers pH.

2/25/2004 5:26:03 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

If Scott can do it on Long Island, it can be done any where. A veritable sand bar Long Island is. LOL

Lot's of fall collected leaves, old rotten horse or cow manure, municipal compost (if it's older than 1 year!), Peat Moss, even bagged manure is better than nothing. The addition of organic material should be an anual exercise. Microbs decay the organic material we add into stable organic matter in time.

The effort will not be in vain. In time it will work.

Steve

2/25/2004 10:06:22 PM

Vermont Green MTN State

Great I will let her know. Now should we do a soil test before we add stuff? And if the peat lowers the ph should I try to counteract on this right away by adding something?
Doeski

2/27/2004 11:15:08 AM

Vermont Green MTN State

So I talked to my freind and here is what she said:

"I have always used a combination of peat moss and composted cow manure but I primarily put that where I plant the plants. It always seemed a waste of time to put it everywhere just for the weeds to be healthy! We have also always rototilled leaves into the garden. This year we don't have any to put in it though.
Two years ago we put lime in the soil also. All of this in 10 years time and it's still white sand out there just like a beach!!!!"

So I guess she just needs to keep it up huh? I will be bringing a huge load of cow manure to her this spring.
Doeski

2/27/2004 2:27:36 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Good idea. It sounds like the task of adding vast quantities of manure is too overwelming for her. Some folks discourage easily in the heat of summer. Then the weeds get away from them & the season ends before it even really had a chance.

I don't like the sounds of the small "honey-hole". Likely to hold water even in sand. If only the top inch or so is being cultivated in the sorrounding area we might be on to something here.

It pains me to see the weekend warriors at the garden centers in the spring buying 2 or 3 bags of manure. I know the majority will soon lose interest in whatever task they're starting.

You're a good friend by the sounds of things. Maybe a layer of clean mulch is in order too? To help keep the weeds down. Something mostly brown & kept away from the stump area. This way she might stay with it this year.

2/27/2004 2:44:58 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Depending on garden size I would recommend a raised bed.

She could basically build it out of what ever she wanted - top soil as long as it contains a great deal of organic material.


If she continues the glory-hole method encourage her to dig the hole 2 or 3 times as big then back fill with manure.

2/27/2004 5:19:21 PM

Norton, MA

Ever try blowing the sand away? No not blowing with air! DYNAMITE!!!!!! LOL.

2/27/2004 5:37:48 PM

Vermont Green MTN State

I am sure she would like the dynamite idea! Could be dangerous with us girls, we may have a little to much wine and lose a limb!
Doeski

2/28/2004 11:14:27 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Doeski,
my soil is sandy as well. 1036, 1032, 800 and 795 first year out there. You can research what amendments I used in my 2003 diary.
Best of luck!

Carlos

2/28/2004 2:40:46 PM