Re: sand
- To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: sand
- From: P*@aol.com
- Date: Sat, 20 Mar 1999 23:47:26 EST
In a message dated 3/20/99 11:15:31 PM Eastern Standard Time,
jpritchard@mindspring.com writes:
<< Subj: Re: sand
Date: 3/20/99 11:15:31 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: jpritchard@mindspring.com
Sender: owner-pumpkins@mallorn.com
Reply-to: pumpkins@mallorn.com
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
John-
Do not add sand!!!! Sand will not improve a clay soil. The addition of
sand may worsen the condition of your soil and reduce your drainage even
further. The fine clay particles will basically adhere to the sand so that
you will wind up with a soil structure that resembles crumbled concrete.
The amount of sand you would need would be outrageous to improve drainage,
and you would lose the benefits nutrient retention that a clay soil
provides.
On heavy clay soils, the best thing to do is add organic matter. The
only other options you would have would be to install a drainage system with
perforated pipe, or choose another location. If you have any other
questions about what I have written, please feel free to write back and I
will explain further the disadvantages of adding sand.
John Pritch >>
Hey John!
There is nothing like a little lively debate! Lets mix it up a
little....so to speak. A good garden loam has a variety of particle sizes. If
you do a sieve analysis ( particle size analysis)on a sandy loam, you might
get 50% sand 30% silt and 20% clay particles. Percentages vary. By adding
organic matter only, you are improving it but you are not changing the
particle size distribution of your soil. My opinion is that the addition of
sand and organic matter would be better than only adding organic matter to
clay.
pumkinguy
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