Sandy soil preparation (forum)

Janey starts with ...
In the Riverland of SA, i have easy digging red sand but it is so oily & 'dead'. Please help me liven it up & capable of soaking up the water we pour onto it.
I have added compost & soil wetta to the hole when planting & spread pig manure everywhere but roses are just sticks after 8 months. Fruit trees are struggling although I have mulched with pea straw & given long waterings every 2nd day.

Time: 11th February 2013 5:32pm

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About the Author Janey
Waikerie SA
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Jantina says...
Janey have you had the soil tested? You don't say how the soil was used before and I'm wondering about the salt levels in particular. Also many years ago we moved into a house with no garden and so I proceeded to make one and could not figure out why everything slowly sickened and died, then I found out that a very toxic long lasting herbicide had been used to rid the entire yard of kikuyu before we moved in and was obviously still active.
If none of that applies , do you have any neighbours having success ? if so maybe you can ask them what they do.
It's very disheartening when all your efforts come to nothing but don't give up, sounds like you have been doing the right things and some other factor is at work.Have you asked at the local garden centre, they might have some ideas.
Good luck.

Time: 13th February 2013 9:25am

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About the Author Jantina
Mt Gambier
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MaryT says...
Janey as Jantina said maybe the soil is toxic. Have you considered a container garden or a built up bed? Roses are quite drought tolerant so there must be something else happening in the 'soil' so maybe it isn't even soil

Time: 15th February 2013 5:55am

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About the Author MaryT
Sydney
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Janey says...
thankyou for your input. I have started a compost bin now. We have 7 acres of virgin natural mallee scrub.I am planting eucalypts as a privacy break from the highway-they seem to be ok but closer to the house where pig poo is spread,nothing is growing.i am starting to use only erimophilas now.Parrots are eating plants from above & rabbits from below. Wire surrounds are everywhere & look ugly. Vegies are elevated in cut down rainwater tanks.These seem to be ok as i hit them with liquid fert every 2 wks,pea straw,compost is dug in.We have athol pines close by & other scrubby trees that seem to attract harlequin bugs ((brown w/red wings)

Time: 6th March 2013 5:17pm

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Janey says...
i should get a PH test done.Maybe the garden centre will do that for me.I have been constantly using soil wetta liquid in a bucket of water on each plant with compost in the hole at planting. This is a very slow process. When i think i have finished watering & the water has disappeared,I have poked my finger depth down beside the plant & it is bone dry & oily feeling. As i start watering, dust is always kicked up & the water lays in puddles on the top of the ground.

Time: 6th March 2013 5:23pm

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About the Author Janey
 
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amanda says...
This site may help Janey - although it's directed at WA sands the lady who writes it is very knowledgable (and also qualified/a professional in the field)
http://wahorticulture.wordpress.com/

There is also a thread here in Daleys which has loads of info'
https://www.daleysfruit.com.au/forum/gardening-in-perth-sands/

Speedy grows in mallee scrub/sands and is very successful so don't give up! :)




Time: 7th March 2013 10:28am

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