Lawns & Beach Sand

[DLCO]

n my opinion, beach sand is not a suitable medium for turf. I've seen putting green's that were constructed out of beach sand and they were failure's because they couldn't hold water. Even after 2 inch's of rain in 2 hour's, they were dry in about 20 minute's.

The very little information I found while I was researching this seemed to agree with that statement. The general consensus was REPLACE THE SAND WITH SOIL.

Doing a bit more reading on this site I found an old thread back from 2004, and this quote stood out to me:

Use an organic program on a high sand soil, and you will have leaching. Soils with a low CEC can't hold the nutrients!!!

(http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.p...s+price&page=2)

So I guess while it may be possible for me to be able to establish and somewhat maintain a healthy lawn, in order for any organic fertilizers to contribute, I need to have a good humus layer?

What are opinions on time frame to achieve such results through ammending with topdressing? could it be done within a season?

[agrostis]

How do you know that the sand you are talking about is beach sand ? Are you close to one of the great lake's ? Before you over-complicate the situation have that soil tested for it's water holding capacity.

I think that "humus layer" is the wrong term for what you want, but i know what you mean. You don't ever want a homogeneous layer in your soil profile, that can cause problem's, even if it's a ideal material. Topdressing 1/4 inch at a time will mix the sand and compost. If you want to use more material than that at one time you need to till that in. If you topdressed four time's a year with 1/4 inch of compost you would only amend the top 1-2 inch's in your soil profile, it's probably a 3-5 year process to make a difference.

[DLCO]

hmm i thought that humus was pretty much defined as an ideal soil made up of organic matter? Either way, perhaps I should know my terminology a little better before throwing such words around.

Anyways, as I stated in a previous post, I am about 2km away from Gerogian Bay which runs off from Lake Huron. Below is a picture of my area before my house was built. The sand is VERY fine texture.

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It's not just my area either. It's the whole town, and I'm assuming the surrounding towns. Water holding capacity would be standard on a soil test?

I'm not so concerned for my own house really, but the potential to offer services to clients. I can inform them (if they didn't already know) about ammending the soil and the length of time it could take to make a difference, or go the route of trying to sell them a whole new lawn, removing and replacing sand with soil.

[agrostis]

Most standard soil test's are only going to report on nutrient level's. It look's like Guelph University soil testing will give a soil moisture reading, but that isn't accurate because by the time they test your sample, it's dried out. I think you would have to specifically ask for this measurement, and i'm not sure how they would term this, "plant available water" or "soil moisture" or something else, i just don't know. This link might be a starting point.

http://www.guelphlabservices.com/AFL/GrowersSoil.aspx

But you are close to a large body of water and you said yourself that it is very fine sand, so you know it drain's too fast and probably doesn't hold nutrient's well. A good topdresser and a good supply of compost might be the way to go.

[DLCO]

UoG was one of the places I was considering sending soil samples to.
I thank you and I sincerely appreciate the effort you put in to reply.

[phasthound]

I think your best bet is to establish native plants which will thrive in this environment. Trying to establish and maintain turf here will be an expensive and uphill battle.

[DLCO]

I think your best bet is to establish native plants which will thrive in this environment. Trying to establish and maintain turf here will be an expensive and uphill battle.

I thank you for the input, but everyone here has some sort of a lawn, and I think most people don't want only bedding as their "lawn". It may be uphill and expensive, but just think, if I can get a few customers, and my own lawn to look good, others will take notice. Hence, my thought of removing 6" of sand and bringing in triple mix... that should be a very good starting off point rather than taking years to ammend the soil.

[phasthound]

Originally Posted by DLCO

I thank you for the input, but everyone here has some sort of a lawn, and I think most people don't want only bedding as their "lawn". It may be uphill and expensive, but just think, if I can get a few customers, and my own lawn to look good, others will take notice. Hence, my thought of removing 6" of sand and bringing in triple mix... that should be a very good starting off point rather than taking years to ammend the soil.

Best of luck to you. Please keep us informed of your progress.