Container Gardens
Pros and Cons of Sand
Sand is defined by its large particles that allow a gardener to easily break up and work this kind of soil. The larger particles allow for air and water to flow easily around the roots of the plants. Dense, small particle soil, like clay, can suffocate plant roots due to the lack of air that is allowed into the ground.
While sand is a part of a good soil formula, gardens should never be planted in mostly sandy soil. Due to the large particle sizes, the soil is unable to hold sufficient water to adequately support plant growth. Additionally, the large air spaces allow water to wash through the root zone, taking valuable nutrients away from the roots and depositing them into the sub-soil where the roots cannot reach them. For this reason, sand is always lacking the extremely water soluble nutrient nitrogen – essential for plant growth.
The best soil – loam – consists of various types of soil, sand only being a part of the solution. Next week I’ll address the pros and cons of clay.
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