Fruit bushes for dry sandy soil
Sandy soils dry out easily and are low in key nutrients. They allow rainwater to filter through the soil quickly with limited water and nutrient retention. On the plus side, they are easy to work, warm up quickly in the spring, less susceptible to bacterial and fungal diseases and provide the perfect arid landscape for plants that thrive in dry, infertile soils. Sandy soils tend to be acidic and benefit from generous amounts of organic matter such as well rotted garden compost, leaf mould or manure being worked into the soil before planting. Unsurprisingly, the best fruit to grow on dry, sandy soils are varieties from the Mediterranean which have evolved to survive through periods of little or no rainfall with limited nutrients, including fig plants and grape vines. It’s best to dig sandy soils in late winter or early spring and incorporate a slow-release fertiliser such as Osmocote when planting. Water through periods of dry weather whilst your plants become established. See our article on understanding your soil for some simple tests you can do to better understand your garden soil. The better you understand your soil type, the better equipped you’ll be to choose plants that will thrive in it.