Written by: Charlotte Glen, Horticulture Agent

Southeastern North Carolina is not a place known for wonderful soils. One of the most common problems gardeners face in our area is dry, poor sand. Fortunately sandy soils are easy to work, so if sand is your problem getting your soil into good shape should not wear you out. Once you have improved a sandy site, you will find these soils can be very productive, producing prolific vegetables and robust trees, shrubs and flowers.

The Root of the Problem

It is easy to overlook the importance of soil when it comes to plant growth because you can’t see what is going on underground. Soil serves as a life giving reservoir for plants, providing both moisture and nutrients vital for plant growth. There are three main problems with sandy soils when it comes to growing plants. First, sand particles are large and coarse, with lots of air space between them. This allows water to enter the soil quickly, but also drain away just as quickly, leaving plants high and dry just a few days after a good rainfall. Because they cannot store water, sandy soils cannot provide the consistent moisture most plants need for healthy growth.

Second, sandy soils cannot store nutrients and have few nutrients of their own. In soils, clay particles and organic matter are responsible for grabbing and holding on to nutrients for plants to use, but sandy soils lack these types of particles. Even when fertilizers are added, they wash away soon after application, leaving plants hungry. Because they naturally lack nutrients and cannot store nutrients provided by fertilizers, plants growing in sandy sites often show nutrient deficiency symptoms like stunting, yellow leaves, and sparse flowering or poor fruit production.

The third problem sandy soil presents is a lack of microorganisms – there is truth in the term “dead” sand. Healthy soils are teaming with billions of tiny, microscopic life forms that help plants grow by cycling nutrients and suppressing plant diseases. These microorganisms need the same conditions plants need to flourish, consistent moisture and nutrients. Because sandy soils cannot provide the moisture and nutrients these microorganisms need to survive, plants growing in them miss out on the tremendous benefits these tiny but mighty organisms provide.

Fixing Sandy Soils

The good news is there is a readily available, fairly cheap solution to all these problems – compost! You can even make it yourself at home for free from your yard and kitchen waste. Compost is the term used for organic matter that has broken down to a fine, soil-like consistency. It is dark and crumbly, and provides sandy soils with nutrients, increases their ability to hold water and nutrients, and creates the perfect habitat for microorganisms. To improve sandy soils, spread 3” to 4” of compost over the surface of landscape beds and gardens and till in to the soil as deeply as possible before planting. When preparing landscape beds, do this initially and then keep plantings well mulched. As mulches break down they continue to add organic matter to the soil. In vegetable gardens, add compost to the soil at least once a year to keep them productive. In established lawns, allowing grass clippings to fall onto the lawn, rather than bagging them, will slowly build up the amount of organic matter in the soil.

Another inexpensive source of organic matter is cover crops. These are crops grown for the purpose of turning them into the soil. Cover crops are sown in beds and tilled in just as they begin to flower. Common winter cover crops include crimson clover, hairy vetch, and mustard. Summer cover crops include buckwheat, cowpeas, and pearl millet.

Learn More

• Cover Crops: //pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+147

If you have gardening questions contact your local Cooperative Extension office. In Pender County call 259-1235, Mon – Fri, 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or visit us online anytime or visit us online anytime by emailing tiffanee_boone@ncsu.edu.