Sandy soil is comprised of minuscule pieces of rock .05 to 2 mm in diameter and has a gritty texture to it. Sandy soils have poor water holding and nutrient retention. Traditional gardens grown on sandy soils require regular watering and fertilising which can be time consuming, expensive, and unsustainable.
It is far better to choose plants that grow naturally in sandy soils, as they generally have adaptations that allow them to grow sustainably in them. Adaptations include root nodules that create nutrients and make use of available water in the soil more efficiently. Many Australian Native trees and shrubs thrive in sandy soils. Species such as Grevilleas, Acacias, Banksias, and many others are good examples of this and are perfect for use in low fertility sandy soils.
When gardening in sandy soils it is best to use organic mulches in abundance to create healthy biologically active soils to minimise water usage and to kick start the nutrient cycle. Avoid using artificial fertilisers which can kill soil bacteria and interfere with the process.
Regular pruning can also be implemented to reduce water and nutrient use of the plants. Keeping them small reduces the water and nutrients required to maintain them.
Timely and strategically implemented watering programmes mimicking irregular rainfall patterns are far more beneficial to these specialised plants rather than regular waterings as they can interfere with soil microorganisms that contribute to the nutrient cycle.
The table below contains species that do well in sandy soils.
Botanical Name | Common Name | Form | Height |
---|---|---|---|
Acacia binervata | Two-veined Hickory | Tree or shrub | 5.0m - 15.0m |
Acacia decurrens | Early Black Wattle | Tree or shrub | 2.0m - 10.0m |
Acacia fimbriata | Fringed Wattle | Tree or Shrub | 7.0m |
Acacia floribunda | Gossamer Wattle | Tree or shrub | 3.0m - 8.0m |
Acacia implexa | Lightwood | Tree | 5.0m - 12.0m |
Acacia longifolia | Sydney Golden Wattle | Tree or shrub | 8.0m |
Acacia mearnsi | Black Wattle | Tree | 6.0m - 15.0m |
Acacia myrtifolia | Myrtle Wattle | Shrub | 2.0m |
Acacia parramattensis | Parramatta Wattle | Tree | 15.0m |
Acacia pravissima | Ovens Wattler | Tree or shrub | 6.0m |
Acacia rubida | Red Stemmed Wattle | Tree or shrub | 5.0m |
Acacia suaveolens | Sweet Wattle | Shrub | 3.0m |
Acacia terminalis | Sunshine Wattle | Tree or shrub | 6.0m |
Acacia vestita | Hairy Wattle | Shrub | 3.0m |
Actinotus helianthi | Flannel Flower | Herb | 0.3m - 0.9m |
Allocasuarina littoralis | Black She-oak | Tree | 5.0m - 12.0m |
Allocasuarina torulosa | Forest Sheoak | Tree | 8.0m - 15.0m |
Angophora costata | Smooth-Barked Apple | Tree | 15.0m - 25.0m |
Angophora floribunda | Rough-Barked Apple | Tree | 30.0m |
Anigozanthos spp | Kangaroo Paw | Tufting Plant | 2.0m |
Baeckea virgata | Tall Baekea | Shrub | 3.0m |
Banksia species | Banksia | Tree or Shrub | 2.0m - 15.0m |
Bauera rubioides | Dog Rose | Shrub | 2.0m |
Boronia species | Boronia | Shrub | 2.0m |
Brachychiton populneus | Kurrajong | Tree | 20.0m |
Bursaria spinosa | Sweet Bursaria | Shrub | 2.0m - 6.0m |
Callistemon species | Bottlebrush | Tree or shrub | 1.0m - 15.0m |
Casuarina cunninghamiana | River Sheoak | Tree | 15.0m - 35.0m |
Casuarina glauca | Swamp Sheoak | Tree | 8.0m - 20.0m |
Correa species | Native Fuschia | Shrub | 0.3m - 1.5m |
Corymbia maculata | Spotted Gum | Tree | 45.0m |
Dianella species | Flax Lily | Grass | 0.1m - 1.0m |
Eucalyptus agglomerata | Blue Leaved Stringbark | Tree | 40.0m |
Eucalyptus dealbata | Tumbledown Red Gum | Tree | 15.0m |
Eucalyptus globoidea | White Stringybark | Tree | 30.0m |
Eucalyptus gregsoniana | Dwarf Snow Gum | Tree | 5.0m |
Eucalyptus macarthurii | Paddys River Box | Tree | 45.0m |
Eucalyptus mannifera. s. maculosa | Red Spotted Gum | Tree | 15.0m |
Eucalyptus piperita | Sydney Peppermint | Tree | 20.0m |
Eucalyptus punctata | Grey Gum | Tree | 30.0m |
Eucalyptus rubida | Candle Bark Gum | Tree | 40.0m |
Eucalyptus schlerophylla | Scribbly Gum | Tree | 20.0m |
Eucalyptus sieberi | Silver Top Ash | Tree | 30.0m |
Grevillea species | Grevillea | Shrub | 0.1m - 6.0m |
Hakea dactyloides | Finger Hakea | Shrub | 1.0m - 3.0m |
Hakea salicifolia | Willow Leaf Hakea | Tree or shrub | 5.0m - 8.0m |
Hakea sericea | Silky Hakea | Shrub | 1.0m - 3.0m |
Hardenbergia violacea | Native Sarsaparilla | Shrub or climber | 0.3m - 2.0m |
Indigophera australis | Australian Indigo | Shrub | 2.0m |
Kunzea ambigua | White Kunzea | Shrub | 3.0m |
Leptospermum species | Tea-tree | Tree or shrub | 1.0m - 4.0m |
Melaleuca species | Paperbark | Tree or shrub | 1.0m - 20.0m |
Melia azedarach | White Cedar | Tree | 7.0m - 12.0m |
Philotheca myoporoides | Native Daphne | Shrub | 2.0m |
Thryptomene F.C. Payne | Payne's Thryptomene | Shrub | 1.0m |
Westringia species | Native Rosmary | Shrub | 1.0m - 2.0m |