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Make Sandy Soil?
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Posted by
saltydog463 7 (
My Page) on
Thu, May 3, 12 at 17:52
| I have standard potting soil. I am planting Strawberries and it calls for Sandy Soil. I bought some play sand. How much sand do I add to turn my potting soil into Sandy Soil that is good for Strawberries? If I test the soil by mixing it in water and letting it settle how do I know if there is enough sand in it?
Thanks,
Saltydog |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Make Sandy Soil?
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| Are you planting in containers or in the ground? |
RE: Make Sandy Soil?
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| Containers. Sorry for the omission |
RE: Make Sandy Soil?
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| Don't use play sand - it will impede the drainage in your container. Here's a link to the container forum (below). Read the opening post and see the details about Al's 5-1-1 mix. It would be great for strawberries. The advice for "sandy soil" is suggesting that strawberries need a well drained soil, rich in organic matter. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Container Soils - Water Movement & Retention XIV
RE: Make Sandy Soil?
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Most everything I have ever seen about growing strawberries is they should be planted, in the garden, in a sandy loam, not Sandy soil, because they need a soil that is evenly moist but well drained. The same thing applies for strawberries growing in containers, an evenly moist but well drained growing medium, or any good potting soil. There are "special" potting mixes being sold, for more money, that are supposed to be especially formulated for growing things like strawberries. Those are not really needed.
Because of the size of the particles of sand it tends to drain too quickly. I have not seen sand impede water flow through it, but find that water moves through sand too quickly unless there is sufficient organic matter in that sand to help hold moisture.
Any good potting soil should be adequate for your needs. |
RE: Make Sandy Soil?
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| Al's gritty mix is supposed to good for plants that like good drainage. I am making some of that, but I still have to buy the fir bark. I planted my strawberries in miracle grow mix, but they came out terrible. The soil stayed too wet. I also learned about over potting. If the container is too big it stays wet too long. Sandy soil usually just means they want good drainage unless it's a cactus that really wants sand. So, I composted those strawberries that is why I am trying the gritty mix. |
RE: Make Sandy Soil?
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| Agreed, a good potting soil will drain very well and doesn't need any help to be a good medium for strawberries. |
sand on ebay
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| I forgot to say I found can buy sand for potting on ebay. They used to have it stores, but I can't find pure sand any longer. You must use large grained sand, not small grained. But, I think gritty will drain better then sand because sand can compact. |
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