Sandy soilis extremely low-fertile and infertile, dries quickly.The properties of sandy soilsusually do not favor the cultivation of plants and good yield, which does not mean that having such soil in the garden is doomed to failure. Learn how tofertilize sandy soils , and learn what to plant on such soils, learn about the bestplants for sandy soils
Sandy soil
Sandy soil - properties
If you still have doubts about the type of soil in your garden, it is worth doing a simple test. Use your hand to pick up some soil from the garden. Ifthe soil is sandyit will be light in color, loose and easily slip through your fingers. Even after soaking, it cannot be formed, and after rubbing it will scatter and rather not even stain your skin.
Since you are sure that your garden hassandy soil , it is worth considering what this is doing for your plants. Well, above all, such soil is very permeable. It does not retain water and dries quickly, which makes it necessary to water garden plants frequently. Such soils are also poor in nutrients. Even if we use mineral fertilizers, their compounds are quickly washed away into the deeper layers of the soil, beyond the reach of plant roots. Therefore, before applying fertilizers, the soil structure must be slightly improved. But more on that in a moment …
Meanwhile, I have a few words of encouragement for you.The properties of sandy soilalso have their advantages. The fact that such soil is very light and loose makes the soil easily aerated, which in turn promotes the growth of plant roots and the development of soil organisms. Light soils heat up faster, therefore they are favorable for the cultivation of some plants that require warm locations. Less force is also required when diggingsandy soil
Sandy soil - fertilization
You should think about improving the structure of sandy soil before planting the plants. You need to bring a large amount of clay to the garden, so that a layer of about 5 cm is spread over the entire surface of the garden. Then we dig the top layer of clay with the soil.
It is also a good idea to sow plants for the so-called green fertilizers. Legumes such as yellow lupins, seradellae and field grasses are perfect for this role.These plants produce a lot of stems and leaves, which, when dug with the soil, decompose and create humus, as well as enrich the soil with nitrogen.
Plants for green fertilizer should be sown in July or early August. Then they will have time to grow before winter. Once they start to bloom, cut them down and ditch shallowly with the soil. In spring, the soil will be ready for planting. If you sow plants for green manure in spring, the garden can be established in the second half of summer.Of course, plants for green manure should also be sown when the garden is in use, e.g. as a catch crop in vegetable cultivation.
Sandy soil - fertilization
First of all, remember that fromsandy soilthe components of mineral fertilizers are quickly leached out. For this reason, you should primarily use organic fertilizers, such as compost, which helps to increase the content of humus in the soil.About 2 cm layer of compost should be spread over the soil and lightly dug in the spring and autumn.To ensure the right amount of compost, it is worth having your own composter, in which you will be able to independently produce the best and at the same time the cheapest fertilizer for our plants.
In a similar way to compost, the structure and fertility of sandy soil will improve the manure. Fresh manure is dug up with sandy soil in the autumn. You can also mix it with clay first and then dig it with sandy soil. Over the winter, it will manage to decompose and fertilize the soil. In the spring, composted manure is used.
Of course, apart from compost and manure, it is also worth using mineral fertilizers. However, choose slow-release fertilizers (eg Osmocote) that release their compounds very slowly. Thanks to this, the mineral compounds are not washed out of the soil so quickly and the roots of the plants will have enough time to collect them.
Plants for sandy soils
Annual plants:Tagetes, Dimorphekta, Eszolcja (California poppy), Double-feathered cosmos, Marigold, Nasturtium, Portulant, whorl
Perennials:Aster talker, Woolly purgatory, Gailardia gypsophila, Gypsophila, Carolingian yucca, Faassen's catnip, Lavender narrow-leaved, Sand thyme, Miłek, Long-leaved serpent, Parsley, Peacock , Sedum, Rocky meadowsweet, Evening primrose, Evening primrose, seaside meadows.
Deciduous trees and shrubs:warty birch, Podolski guinea fowl, shrubby cinquefoil, sea buckthorn, acetic sumac, snow white tamarisk, early tavern
Conifers:Common juniper, Creeping juniper, Sabine juniper, Scots pine, Mountain pine (dwarf pine), Black pine, Blue spruce
