Garden Plan For Sandy Soils
The key to success in sandy soil is less frequent and deeper watering, using slow release
fertilizers to reduce the amount of fertilizer run off and adding as much organic matter as
possible
Your sandy soil garden might be difficult at times, but do not despair! Using these plants
for sandy soils you can create a beautiful extended-bloom garden. The key to success in
your sandy soil garden is to understand the properties of this soil type and to choose plants
that have adapted to thrive there.
In general, perennials that prefer sandy soils are happy being on the drier
side and function well with little nutrients – a great recipe for a lower maintenance garden!
Soil plays a critical role in determining what plants will grow and thrive, or what plants
will struggle and die. Understanding the type of soil you have in your garden is important to help
choose what will succeed there.
In general, soil is made up of a percent of each clay, sand, and silt. Clay is the smallest soil particle
while sand is the largest, with silt finding the happy medium in between. So what does it mean if
you’ve determined that your soil is dominated by sand?
Because sand is the largest soil particle it means that water can move through the large pore spaces
rapidly.
A sandy soil also has so much air in it that microbes consume organic matter very quickly.
Because sandy soils usually contain very little clay or organic matter, they don't have much of a
crumb structure.
The soil particles don't stick together, even when they're wet.
This fast drainage is an advantage for growing plants that like to be dry. However, sandy soils
are typically low in nutrients. This is because the large pore space and fast drainage washes out any
available nutrients.
Sandy soils also warm up and cool down relatively quickly from the air temperature changes, meaning
growth in the spring will start quickly but cool nights in the autumn will make the perennials go into
dormancy earlier as well.
Even very poor soil can be dramatically improved, and your efforts will be well rewarded. With their
roots in healthy soil, your plants will be more vigorous and more productive.
Work in 3 to 4 inches of organic matter such as well-rotted manure or finished compost.
Mulch around your plants with leaves, wood chips, bark, hay or straw. Mulch retains
moisture and cools the soil.
Add at least 2 inches of organic matter each year.
Sandy Soil Plant Catalog
The table below has 26 plants that are tolerant of sandy soils. The list includes both full sun
and shade tolerant plants, flowers, grasses and ferns. This is only a partial list but
includes plants that are commonly found at your local native plant nursery.
EARLY
|
Arrow-Leaved Violet
|
Viola sagittata |
Blue |
6-9" |
|
C,L, S |
M |
Bishop's Cap
|
Mitella diphylla |
White |
1' |
|
C,L,S |
M,Mo |
Columbine
|
Aquilegia canadensis |
Red,Yellow |
1-3' |
|
L,S |
D,M |
Eastern Star Sedge
|
Carex radiata |
Green |
1-2' |
|
L,S |
M,Mo |
Golden Alexanders
|
Actaea alba |
Yellow |
1-2' |
|
C,L,S |
M,Mo,W |
Lupine
|
Lupinus perennis |
Blue |
1-2" |
|
S |
D |
MID |
Broad-Leaved Penstemon
|
Penstemon ovatus |
Purple |
2' |
|
S,R |
D,M |
Hay Scented Fern
|
Dennstaedtia punctilobula |
Green |
1-2' |
|
C,L,S |
D,M |
Leadplant
|
Amorpha canescens |
Purple |
2-3' |
|
L,S |
D,M |
Smooth Penstemon
|
Penstemon digitalis |
White |
2-3' |
|
C,L,S |
M,Mo |
Bluejoint Grass
|
Calamagrostis canadensis |
Straw |
4' |
|
C,L,S |
M,Mo,W |
Common Milkweed
|
Asclepias syriaca |
Lavender,Pink |
2-4' |
|
C,L,S |
D,M |
Scarlet Beebalm
|
Monarda didyma |
Red |
3-5' |
|
C,L,S |
M,Mo |
Black-Eyed Susan
|
Rudbeckia hirta |
Yellow |
1-3' |
|
C,L,S |
D,M,Mo |
MID-LATE |
Great St. John's Wort
|
Hypericum pyramidatum |
Yellow |
6' |
|
C,L,S, R |
M,Mo |
New Jersey Tea
|
Ceanothus americanus |
White |
2-3' |
|
L,S |
D,M |
Bergamot
|
Monarda fistulosa |
Lavender |
2-5' |
|
C,L,S |
D,M,Mo |
Brown-Eyed Susan
|
Rudbeckia triloba |
Yellow |
2-5' |
|
L,S |
M,Mo |
Cup Plant
|
Silphium perfoliatum |
Yellow |
5-10' |
|
C,L,S |
M,Mo,W |
Lavender Hyssop
|
Agastache foeniculum |
Lavender |
3-4' |
|
L,S |
D,M |
Purple Coneflower
|
Echinacea purpurea |
Lavender |
3-4' |
|
C,L.S |
D,M |
LATE
|
Heart-Leaved Aster
|
Eurybia cordifolius |
Blue |
2-3' |
|
C,L,S |
D,M |
Tall Ironweed
|
Vernonia altissima |
Purple,Pine |
5-8' |
|
C,L,S |
Mo,W |
Tall Joe Pye Weed
|
Eupatorium fistulosum |
Lavender,Pink |
5-8' |
|
C,L,S |
M,Mo |
Zigzag Goldenrod
|
Solidago flexicaulis |
Yellow |
5-8' |
|
C,L,S |
D,M |
Calico Aster
|
Eurybia lateriflorum |
White |
2-3' |
|
C,L,S |
D,M |
SOIL:
L = Loam
C = Clay
S = Sandy
R = Rocky
MOISTURE:
D = Dry
M = Medium
Mo = Moist
W = Wet