Plants for sandy soil turn light, fast-draining ground into an easy place to garden. The right plants love the sharp drainage that sandy soil offers and shrug off the summer dryness that comes with it.
Sandy soil is light, gritty and quick to drain. It warms up early in spring and is easy to dig, which plants and gardeners both appreciate, but water and nutrients wash straight through it, so it dries out fast in summer and needs feeding more often than heavier ground.
The plants here are built for exactly that. Many are naturally drought-tolerant, with the deep roots or tough, silver foliage that suit fast-draining ground, so they cope with the dryness that would stress a thirstier plant. Adding organic matter helps the soil hold a little more moisture, and a mulch each spring keeps it from drying out too quickly. Sandy soil is also the easiest place to grow anything that hates winter wet.
All grown for UK gardens and sent out well rooted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Drought-tolerant plants thrive here: those with deep roots or tough, silver foliage suit the sharp drainage and cope with summer dryness. Sandy soil is also perfect for anything that hates sitting wet in winter.
Dig in plenty of organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure to help it hold water and nutrients, and mulch each spring. Feeding little and often through the growing season makes up for what drains away.
Yes, water drains through it fast, so it dries out quicker than clay or loam in summer. New plants need regular watering, but established drought-tolerant plants cope well once their roots go down.
It has real advantages. It is easy to dig, warms up early in spring, and never waterlogs, which suits a huge range of sun-loving and drought-tolerant plants. It just needs feeding and mulching to make up for fast drainage.
