Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Sandy Soil

Q. I am in the process of creating a meditation garden. I live on Long Island, NY where the weather is mild, but the soil is very sandy. I was interested in planting fragrant plants and herbs. There will be some boxwood around a portion of the brick walk that I just laid. I would like to fill the sides with the plants.

A. What a lovely project. Sounds like it would be great and I sure would use it often in nice weather, maybe in the snow too...oh, it doesn't snow here!

You will need to build up a nice organic layer of mulch on top, and that helps a lot. Rake the neighbors oak leaves and use them for mulch. Meanwhile, here's my list of sand-lovers:

Lantana (you can't kill this stuff)
Gaura (also called Whirling Butterflies)
Daylilies
Delphinium
Blueberries
Strawberries
Tuberous begonias
Flowering almond
Bleeding heart
Coneflower
Tulip
Iris
Tomato
Hostas
Peppers
Mexican Heather
Ruellia (Mexican Petunia)
Lady Banks Rose
Mexican Sage

Book: Gardening in Sandy Soil

Not all of us are blessed with living on perfect, rich, luxuriant loam. While some of you may be lucky enough to live and garden where the soil is ideal,
many of us live where the soil is sandy. But should this stop us from gardening? No way! Learn the secrets of gardening in sandy soil with this information-packed guide. Learn how to amend your soil with organic matter, compost, leaves, green manure, seaweed, and more. Find out the many ways and benefits of mulching on sandy soil. And learn to choose those plants that will not only survive in sandy soil, but will actually thrive! If you've been discouraged by the yield of your garden because of sandy soil, get this guide and watch it grow.

I recommend that you buy this informative and cheap publication: Written by C. L. Fornari. A Country Wisdom Bulletin. Paperback, 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 inches, 32 pages with line drawings. Published by Storey Books. ISBN: 0-88266-717-3. Publishers list price $3.95. Dan's price $3.55. You save $0.40 (10%).

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Add organic debris from your own or your neighbor's gardens plus prunings, pine needles, garden waste, kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, pet fur brushings (a nitrogen source).

The benefits of sandy soil: drainage, root penetration, air circulation, digging. The disadvantages of gardening in sand: rapid water loss, nutrient
loss. Strategies for success - using amendments: soil amendments, green
amendments, amending new beds, amending established beds. Fertilizing.

Mulch: mulching materials, how much mulch? problems with mulch.

Choosing plants: sandy soils and pH, moisture-loving plants in sandy soil, vegetables in sandy soil. Plants for sandy soils: ground covers and grasses, annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees.

Here are more ideas from an online gardening source:

BUTTERFLY WEED [Asclepias tuberosa]
A member of the milkweed family and therefore offers much significance to the Monarch butterfly. Bright orange clusters are a delight to the summer garden. Requires full sun, has a tap root and averages eighteen inches high.

HAIRY PENSTEMON [Penstemon hirsutus]
Lilac to pink, trumpet shaped flowers in early summer. Heights can vary from one to three feet. Does well in average to dry soils as well.

DWARF BLAZINGSTAR [Liatris cylindracea]
Reaching heights of 8 to 24 inches, this Ontario native has pink-purple, solitary flower heads in late summer. Likes lime soils and can tolerate average soils as well.

WILD LUPINE [Lupinus perennis]
The stunning bluish purple, pea-like flower stalks will attract many butterflies to your garden in early spring. Requires full sun and averages heights of one to two feet.

PRAIRIE VERVAIN [Verbena stricta]
Attractive slender spikes of purple flowers in the summer months. Tolerates part shade or full sun, averages heights of two to four feet.

NORTHERN BAYBERRY [Myrica pensylvanica]
This salt tolerant shrub requires group plantings to produce fruit which both
duck and fox love to eat. Mature heights of 6 to 8 feet. Many uses including
candles and potpourri.

SAGEBRUSH FAMILY [Artemesia sp.]
Each with their own distinct fragrance, has light green to silver foliage. Averaging heights of three feet - this family is an important plant for a variety of uses to Native people.

http://www.sweetgrassgardens.com/sand.htm