Mulching Sandy Soil
Last post 07-11-2009 1:52 PM by catymck. 2 replies.
-
06/11/2009 03:30 PM
|
|
- catymck
- surrey
- 12 Mar 2009
-
40
|
We have very dry sandy soil, so last spring we dug some composted manure into a new raised bed and put a 2-3" layer on top when the soil was really wet and planted through it. The stuff was from the local garden centre and we did this on their advice - they are normally very good. Things did not grow very well - tomato and bean plants didn't flourish and looked pretty poor in comparison to others in 'unimproved' beds. When the plants had finished we tidied up the bed and dug around a bit and it was as dry as a bone underneath! Everywhere was dry as well, but with a bit of judicial watering, we had managed to get decent crops.
What did we do wrong? Any thoughts would be mosg welcome.
|
-
|
06/11/2009 05:17 PM
|
|
|
Sandy soil holds little water (although your added compost would have helped significantly), so once the plants had exhausted the soil moisture they needed rain or watering to replenish supplies in the dry spells in early and in late summer. The mulch made it difficult for rain in mid-summer to penetrate. On the other hand the mulch no doubt saved a lot of weeding.
Next year dig in a 2-3inch layer, then mulch with another layer, plant as usual but be careful to water when soil moisture reserves depleted.
I expect all would have been well had you a heavier soil which hold significantly more moisture reserves than sandy soil.
Boggy
Beware the bat-eared bogweevil
|
-
|
07/11/2009 01:52 PM
|
|
- catymck
- surrey
- 12 Mar 2009
-
40
|
Thanks for this Boggy - we'll give it a try.
|