Who has sandy soil? Help!

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kit279

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Our land is very well-draining sandy soil and should be a godsend in the winter. But at the moment, it looks a bit sorry - the fields haven't grown very much grass and it's looking a bit scorched.

How best should I manage the land? The plan is to top, fertilize and spray at some point in the early autumn. But I'm wondered what I can do to keep it in good nick.

Any advice?
 
I am also on very light sandy soil and it's a pain in the derrier!! Obviously in the winter it's great. It's hard to keep/get a decent sward on it as the roots never seem to grow very deep. I have found this year - due to quad/equipment being stolen by "travellers" that having not topped the grass that it's still very green and looking healthy. I'm in East Anglia so we've had an exceptionally dry period. One of the paddocks which has been grazed, I've not let it get too short and that's now greening up well. I have also started to irrigate some of the paddocks due to the soil not retaining any moisture. I know this isn't practical in many aspects but it's really helped to green the grazed paddock up. I keep mine off the fields from Oct (apart from winter paddock) and then leave it until spring when it's fertilized, harrowed/scarified as it gets very compacted and then left to grow. Oh I do spray for weeds as well. The other bother with sandy soil is ragwort really likes it. Must admit this year is the best year I've had for grass for so long and I thought it was going to be disastrous.
 
Should have added, if you fertilise and spray in autumn you need to do it before the soil temperatures drop and in time with the bit of growth you get in autumn. If you are going to rest them until the spring I'd maybe leave it until spring. Do you have a rabbit problem as well?
 
I'm on sand and it's a bit of a challenge to get good growth of grass.
Fertilise in spring and try not to cut to short.
One thing that has helped a lot is grazing cattle and sheep on it.
 
star said:
... feeding hay again!
Click to expand...

Me too. Annoying, isn't it?

My land's silt, so similar to sand but far more fertile. It means I don't need to fertilize and it gets a hardpan worse than sand.

Anyway, I've owned the land about 12 years and have found putting in as much composted stuff as possible has really, really improved every aspect of the soil and grazing seasons are longer as a result. It's labour intensive, so not worth doing on rented land, mind you.

I put all my mucking out in wormeries then spread it on the land a few months later. The worms do the work and take their compost down to root level so long as they are spread in warmish damp months like April and September/October.

The results are better drainage (not a need for you of course) yet better wet retention too, so it stays moist in summer and the grass grows better. It has also encouraged a thicker grass growth, helped stop hard panning and any rain falling soaks in rather than running off.

In the short term, on sand, I'd recommend not rolling, trying not to graze too low and perhaps adding a little lime to 'sweaten' the sand and encourage grass roots to spread more. You could also consider re-seeding over the existing grass with seed mixed specifically for sandy soils. It's not too costly as you'd not need to use much seed over existing grass.

Then do a rain dance!
 
The livery yard I keep my pony on is on sand, as a result we're down to hay fed in the fields and no grass left. It was harrowed a few months ago and hasn't been fertilized for a couple of years.

Next door however has long green grass!! They didn't top theirs this year and have had sheep grazing on it. Looking at theirs this is the way to go.
 
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