[Community_garden] How/whether to prevent leaching into sandy soil

[Vinnie Bevivino]

Not to just repeat what everyone is saying, but adding organic matter  
has two effects on sandy soil.  First, it will increase water  
retention which is very much needed with sandy soil.  Your winters  
are wet but if you have dry summers, then you'd have to irrigate way  
too often to keep the soil wet.  Organic matter acts like a sponge  
that holds water.  Second, it will add nutrients to your soil, if  
done correctly.  And this is where I want to add to the  
conversation.  Some people suggested adding any organic matter you  
can get your hands on, even wood chips and mulch and this such.   
While this is great, you have to understand a sliver of microbiology  
to understand the proper rations of green wastes (leaves, succulent  
plants, kitchen waste, things like that) and brown organic matter  
(wood).  Adding too much wood waste can decrease your fertility.

So, go find a pamphlet somewhere or a website about proper  
composting, and the nitrogen to carbon rations.  Its some simple  
stuff, but will be the difference between stunted growth and big  
green plants.

At the Master Peace Community Garden, where I work, we built the  
garden by spreading out 60 yards of municipal compost, made from  
composted leaves and yard waste.  While not ideal (there was probably  
a lot of wood in that), its okay because a) is really cheap, b) its  
composted already so there isn't much of a fertility issue, and c) is  
adding organic matter to our very sandy eastern Maryland coastal  
soils.  That with regular mulching, and a whole lot of it, has made  
some nice dark soil in one year.

Good luck,

Vinnie Bevivino
Community Garden Educator
The Engaged University
Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program
University of Maryland

The Center for Educational Partnership
6200 Sheridan Street
Riverdale, MD 20737
301-405-0656




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