29 Dec 15 Heather Ryan (Australia - temperate climate)
I have recently acquired a 4m x4m plot in a community garden and the soil in quite sandy.I have previously only gardened with clay soil and these soil conditions are a new learning curve for me.What can I do to improve the soil for vegetable growing.
30 Dec 15 Gregg Miller (Australia - temperate climate)
Heather, I guess you are in a coastal area. The use of seaweed has very successful in this way. My Mum used to gather seaweed from the local beach on the NSW Central Coast. Use the seaweed and along with spent mushroom compost, news paper, straw, other compost from organic matter only. Australian soils are very poor and most need this kind of build up. Local Stores that sell mushrooms will also sell spent compost. You could also try a legume such as peas, these add nitrogen, easy to grow and then turn in.
You may also find Complete Australian Gardener book willbe most helpful.
Gregg.
08 Jan 16 Heather Ryan (Australia - temperate climate)
I have recently acquired a plot in a community garden and as the soil is sandy over limestone, I had every intention of using the No- Dig method of raising the garden beds and building up the layers starting with a wetta soil product with a bentalite clay additive, newspaper,a layer of coarse composted bark chips and then the usual layers of lucerne ,blood and bone, manure ,pea straw, compost etc. I know Perth soils are very sandy and they use this wetta soil product to help retain some moisture...Am I wasting my time trying this. Great idea about the seaweed! Would you have dry it first or do you use it in its fresh state. I have only gardened on biscay clay soils around the Barossa Valley previously so this is a whole new ball game for me. Appreciate you taking the time to reply,Thanks!!
10 Jan 16 heatherRyan (Australia - temperate climate)
P.S. Sorry the correct spelling of the clay product is bentonite clay and I did a little research about Seaweed and you don't have to wash the salt off it it you only use small amounts of it . I am still awaiting approval for my plot as it has to go before a committee meeting who meet monthly.
Hi Heather,
You may wish to check out a product called Soil Solver Clay. This contains kaolin clay and is far more "garden friendly" than bentonite clay. I have used both and found kaolin clay more favourable and you can use a lot more in your soil to hold the moisture. Also, I have seen a reduction in nematode activity when I have used kaolin clay. This may be coincidence only. Have a look at the Youtube video by Trevor Cochrane. Hope this helps.
15 Jan 16 Heather Ryan (Australia - temperate climate)
Thank you for joining the conversation on my sandy soil problem. I will certainly do some research on the product you suggested and watch the video. - any knowledge from personal experience is certainly appreciated. Heather.
10 Feb 16 Karl Parkes (Australia - temperate climate)
In 2009,I moved into a sydney coastal village at Narrabeen, and was given quite a large garden area for my use.This area was originally a sand dune area and the "soil"was atrocious and dried out before my eyes.Also nutrient quality was practically zero.So I got to work on the problem.Once a month for FOUR YEARS,I applied a 5 cm.layer of grass clippings all over the place [tedious] and let it rot in.I also watered the clippings often so that they would rot away.Finally,it worked and I now have a top zonal area of about 30 cms.which appears fertile and my plantings are going well.I also applied chicken poo pellets 3 times a year and soluble fertiliser.I still have to water regularly because although the topsoil is now good,the underlying base is pure sand with no water retention properties.
16 Feb 16 Heather Ryan (Australia - temperate climate)
Thank you for joining in the conversation on a solution for sandy soils. I have read your comment with interest and will look forward to solving my problem too with a lot of organic matter, hard work and some patience. Pleased to hear all the work you have put into your soil is finally paying off...well done!!
31 Jan 16 Gregg Miller (Australia - temperate climate)
There are many ways to solve this sandy problem without going to great expense. Before You spend You hard earned $$$. Start a compost corner of Your garden. Only 'organic' matter from Your garden goes in.
The seaweed, can You add this in ? If not keep all kitchen scraps, mown grass, other cuttings but do remember that 'weeds' have seeds and will invade Your efforts put them in Your bin.
If there are any places where bagged horse, cow, chook poo etc are sold at road sides these will bring up Your soil Nitrogen levels as well.
Spent mushroom compost has two advantages, it's perfect for You and new mushies usually grow. !! Good luck.
Gregg.
10 Feb 16 Heather Ryan (Australia - temperate climate)
Apologies for the late reply.Thank you for your advice on improving my sandy soil problem...I'm lucky enough to be able to acquire a great variety of animal manures and have started keeping all my organic matter for a that little compost corner including my kitchen scraps, seaweed,egg shells and banana skins. I have progressed to doing one half of my plot with layering all of the above with peastraw in my No Dig garden and it's coming along beautifully. As they say it's cooking!!! We get a little impatient as gardeners and expect things to happen yesterday but I'm doing all the right things so all is good. Thank you again for your imput I have really appreciated the advice. Heather.
23 Nov 16 Robert (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Heather. I was in a more temperate area of Tas when I started gardening in nearly pure sand. Every weekend I took the kids to the beach and we collected bags of sea grass. Spread, and when dry tilled in. After two or three years, carrots were huge, tender and flavoursome. Some could be over 600mm long and completely edible. So there are advantages in persistence. Beware sheep manure!!!! It can be full of the most obnoxious weeds. Better to hessian bag it and place in a barrel of water for two weeks or more. Dilute the 'water' in your watering can, to the colour of weak tea and use as a plant leaf spray and around the roots. Once I had built up the humus, I could grow anything.
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