shade / herbaceous borders / clay // Winter colour / dry / sandy soil / chalky soil / slopes / bog gardens / ground cover / Low maintenance /
Cacti is the obvious one, but carrots, radishes, garlic, strawberries, blueberries, hostas, peppers, tomatoes, daylilies, iris, beetroot, parsnips, lettuce, potatoes, and certain bean varieties are all happy in sandy soil. Most herbs are also at home in sandy soil. I have listed a few on the herb page
Changing or even trying to improve sandy soil is time-consuming so why not try growing plants that will grow in your type of soil. How to test your soil
Annuals For
Sandy Soil.
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia grandiflora), Gaillardia plants require good drainage, perfect for sandy soils.
Portulaca/Purselane (Portulaca grandiflora) This semi-succulent plant produces jewel-toned blooms on low growing foliage throughout the summer.
Zinnia (Zinnia elegans), These quick growing natives of Mexico produce lots of daisy-like flowers during summer months. Zinnias will die after the first frost, but are readily self-sowing.
Perennials For Sandy Soil.
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus') These tall meadow natives produce large, daisy-like blooms from mid-summer to early fall. Purple coneflowers attract
butterflies and bees, and if their cones are left on, they'll attract birds in the Autumn.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), This dense, low growing herb is evergreen and responds well to sandy soils. Both the foliage and the tiny flowers are highly aromatic.
Stonecrop (genus Sedum) , The genus sedum includes a wide range of succulent plants that grow naturally in sandy soil.
Shrubs For
Sandy Soil
Barberry (Berberis thunbergii). This thorny shrub produces yellow flowers and red berries. A
prolific self-seeder, can be invasive.
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) A distinctive plant with tall, arching stems and long narrow leaves, Butterfly Bush is best known for its flowers, which attract butterflies .Seeds freely so can become invasive.
Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius), This upright, deciduous bush produces lots of yellow blooms in late spring. Scotch Broom is again invasive.
10 Plants that can tolerate full sun and sandy soil
Essential minerals for healthy gardening Explained here minerals for healthy soil
Types of Soil and the wild meadow flowers that will grow and thrive in them I have listed a few species of wild flowers and the soil they thrive in best on this page, soil wildflowers grow in
Writing your first book or novel? This new website provides advice and tips to help write, edit, publish, market and promote it https://www.faircop.com/