Sandy Soil

From coastal dunes to riverbanks, sandy soils are everywhere. Learn how to make them bloom beautifully!

Get Loose With It - Gardening in Sandy Sites

We’ve talked about clay soils. And growing in wet soils. And dry soils. But what about those individuals gardening on sandy soil? From the midlands of Wisconsin to the coasts of Long Island, sandy soil can be found all over this beautiful land, and not just by the beach.

What Constitutes Sandy Soil?

Sandy soil is the most free draining of the soil types, characterized by a typically coarse texture and loose soil structure. What we love about gardening in sandy soil is how easy it is to dig a hole, and it’s a breeze to weed. However, that benefit becomes a potential issue during a dry spell. Plants growing in sandy soil require deep roots to survive drought periods without supplemental watering. On the positive side, sandy soils allow for fast drainage, which is beneficial during wet winters when cold rains and snow can cause root rot in claggy soils, especially when plants aren’t actively growing. Proper plant selection is essential for a thriving garden on sandy soil if homeowners don’t wish to spend all their time watering. While this may limit more conventional plant choices, there are plenty of beautiful options that prefer the low-nutrient, fast-draining soils of sandy sites.

Plants for sandy soils

Our team enjoys exploring sandy habitats throughout the Mid-Atlantic, searching for plants that naturally occur in these ecosystems. From the pine barrens to river banks, sandy soils aren’t just found at the seashore. Plants from these areas have what it takes to survive high winds, salt runoff, deluges of rain, seasonal flooding, and periods of drought. If these are the conditions your clients are dealing with, don’t fight the site with expensive irrigation systems - lean in and embrace the wild beauty of sandy soils.

Flowering Plants

Hibiscus moscheutos | swamp rosemallow

Monarda punctata | spotted beebalm

Lonicera sempervirens | trumpet honeysuckle

Asclepias tuberosa | butterfly milkweed

Rudbeckia triloba | brown-eyed susan

Coreopsis pubescens ‘Sunshine Superman’ | star tickseed

Asclepias syriaca | common milkweed

Ruellia humilis | wild petunia

Erosion Control and Texture

Schizachyrium littorale | coastal bluestem

Panicum virgatum | switchgrass