sandy soil

Can anyone recommend anything for extreemly sand fine soil?
It's as fine as sand. Should I try and bulk it out with manure or grit? (We have alots of ants too which isn't helping - I have been pouring nipon down the holes and stamping it in .. a tip I got off this forum.)

Prob is I have done things the wrong way around as usual and have planted my spring blubs which I should have prob held off as now I can't really dig the soil too much incase I lift out all my bulbs.

 

Definitely not grit, that will make it worse. Manure or compost is the best thing.

Frequently we are told to grow plants in a free draining damp soil. This is not easy to achieve and sounds like an oxymoron, nevertheless, you have the free draining so the bulky stuff will add the required damp.

 

Actually you can add non organic material to sandy soil to improve its water retaining ability. BUT rather than grit what you add is gravel. This should be irregular in shape rather than smooth pebbles like shingle. Obviously organic material is very very important at the same time.

 

Hi Crouchend
Don't despair - you can get good results from sandy soil + its much less of a pain to work than clay!
My own garden soil naturally resembles the sahara, I add a 2-3 inch mulch of manure or mushroom compost (whatever I can get hold of) in autumn and again in Spring to the whole garden - I NEVER dig it - just lay it on top after a good rain & let the soil microlife do its stuff.
If you keep up the mulching, this will improve the texture, structure and moisture retention of your soil & make more nutrients available for your plants.
Good Luck & enjoy!

 

Crouchend - I agree with the plenty of compost bit. And as Bayleaf says you can lay it on the top and let the worms do the work. I would also look into what sorts of plants like sandy soil. I am on clay - and you will be able to grow all sorts of plants that I cannot.