Sand quantity advice required, please...

[Herbsandveg]

I'm new to the Forum, but am about to start to cultivate an area of what is now lawn with a size of 11' x 7', and could do with some advice on 'creating' the very best quality soil I can. I'm thinking a mix of four parts loam, with two parts of composted material - mainly composting leaves from our local park - plus one part in ratio of fine sand might be OK. I'd like to buy some proper topsoil, but can't afford it at the moment, so until the new compost I'm making becomes available when properly prepared, I'm reliant on my own 'creation'. I have some Comfrey liquid fertiliser on order, as well as a similar Nettle and Comfrey type, and have also ordered some Comfrey pellets. I'm also hoping to create a 'Nettle tea' and then grow some green manure into the plot over winter...

It would bless my gardening boots off if anyone could offer a bit of advice as to the workability of this, so many thanks in advice for any help anyone could give...

[roitelet]

You don't say what kind of soil you have. If I were presented with the same problem I would double dig the plot burying the turf at the bottom of each trench so as not to deplete the soil. When it had settled work some compost and a bit of general purpose fretilizer into the top spit and plant into that and see what happens this year. That will give you an idea what needs to be done to the soil.

What you are suggesting may not be the best way forward and will be very expensive. Others may think differently.

I started with 'field' double dug and over the last 8 years added as much humus as possible. The soil to begin with was brick makers clay with flint. Now most of the flint in the top two spits has gone and the soil is humus rich and fertile. I would add the plot is 18m x 6m.

Best of luck

[Herbsandveg]

You don't say what kind of soil you have. If I were presented with the same problem I would double dig the plot burying the turf at the bottom of each trench so as not to deplete the soil. When it had settled work some compost and a bit of general purpose fretilizer into the top spit and plant into that and see what happens this year. That will give you an idea what needs to be done to the soil.

What you are suggesting may not be the best way forward and will be very expensive. Others may think differently.

I started with 'field' double dug and over the last 8 years added as much humus as possible. The soil to begin with was brick makers clay with flint. Now most of the flint in the top two spits has gone and the soil is humus rich and fertile. I would add the plot is 18m x 6m.

Best of luck

Thank you for the advice. What a really excellent Forum we have here!


Regarding the soil type: Would I be right in thinking that I'd need a soil test kit in order to determine the type of soil. It seems fairly good to me, and there's no real evidence of clay, but I've really got no idea beyond that as to exactly what type we have. So much to learn, so little time before the veg has to go in!

[Aberdeenplotter]

if it's clay, it will stick together. If it's loam, it should be kinda crumbly, if it's sandy, it will be really free draining and ermhh sandy, if it's gravelly or stoney it will be ermhh , I think you will be getting the idea.

[Herbsandveg]

if it's clay, it will stick together. If it's loam, it should be kinda crumbly, if it's sandy, it will be really free draining and ermhh sandy, if it's gravelly or stoney it will be ermhh , I think you will be getting the idea.

Thank you for that. I think I'd best describe it as 'stoney loam'..

Incidentally, I see you're from Aberdeen. My sister lived up there for about a year. Are you anywhere near Nigg? We used to go down to a place called Cove Bay on warm summer's evenings, and we'd walk past a pub called 'The Gay Gordon's. Wonder if it's still there? Might Google it and see...

[roitelet]

A soil test kit will only give you the Ph of the soil and I have never bothered and have been growing things for longer than I care to remember. If you have what you describe as stoney loam then I would just reduce the number of stones in it gradually. Leave some of the small ones for drainage and don't try and do too much at a time, little by little is the best way. Do a small patch throughly rather than rush at a big patch and end up exhausted and not a thorough job.

[dod]

You can test soil for all manner of things in addition to pH, although some of the tests might be less practical than others if you're not conversant with them, and some would require equipment that perhaps isn't readily available to you already (you could measure organic matter gravimetrically and would only need a set of scales and an oven, but the oven might need to go hotter than a normal domestic one, the test is usually called "loss on ignition").

However, soil texture is one of the most important "tests" of soil quality and requires just you and a bit of soil. I'll not try to explain it in detail, I'm sure you could find a multitude of videos on the web explaining it, but it's basically about how the soil feels (does it feel like sand, or clay, or something else?). I would suggest that you give this a go before trying anything else.

[rustylady]

Thank you for that. I think I'd best describe it as 'stoney loam'..

In that case you've got a very good start. I wouldn't even think about adding sand to it. Just dig it over, burying the turf and removing any large stones. You'll probably find that most things will grow fine this year.

After that, it's a case of adding more organic matter (home made compost, etc) as and when you can.

[Herbsandveg]

Thank you for that, RustyLady...

I'm very grateful for everybody's help, and really like this friendly Forum.

Hope to keep meeting online...

Regards
Graham

[boundtothesoil]

However, soil texture is one of the most important "tests" of soil quality and requires just you and a bit of soil. I'll not try to explain it in detail, I'm sure you could find a multitude of videos on the web explaining it, but it's basically about how the soil feels .

A pretty comprehensive/good flow-diagram-based method for deciding what kind of soil texture you have, by 'feel' can be found at
Guide to Texture by Feel | NRCS Soils

[ancee]

If your grass is growing the soil must be ok! Check if you have lots of weeds, they grow anywhere haha! Or, you could grow weeds - you can eat some of em too

[Aberdeenplotter]

Thank you for that. I think I'd best describe it as 'stoney loam'..

Incidentally, I see you're from Aberdeen. My sister lived up there for about a year. Are you anywhere near Nigg? We used to go down to a place called Cove Bay on warm summer's evenings, and we'd walk past a pub called 'The Gay Gordon's. Wonder if it's still there? Might Google it and see...

Sorry, just noticed this post. I'm in Bucksburn which is on the opposite side of the City on the way to the airport.

[Two_Sheds]

Would I be right in thinking that I'd need a soil test kit in order to determine the type of soil.

or look at what's already growing in it. Indicator weeds


I wouldn't add anything in your first year. You seem like the type of person who wants it right, first time? In which case, with gardening, you're doomed to disappoint yourself, because there are so many variables.

You could buy in the very best type of soil mix, and then if the weather is cold & wet you'll still get no crops.

Get your first year under your belt: things will grow. Learn from mistakes, learn from your successes too.