Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Ian Young's Bulb Log - Feedback Forum => Topic started by: ian mcenery on March 08, 2013, 01:06:40 PM
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Very interesting and informative log as usual Ian.
I would be very interested to know how you constructed the sand beds. Were these made by adding a depth of sand over the the existing bed or was excavation involved and what depth of sand do you find works best?
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Ian, as our natural soil is so well drained I just place the sharp sand on top.
I used paving edgers to contain the sand and it is for 30 to 40 cms. deep.
You can see pictures of a similar bed when I first made it in Bulb log 26 of 2007.
http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2007/260607/log.html (http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2007/260607/log.html)
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Thanks Ian
My soil is I think similar to yours so if I can find a source of the right gritty sand I will give it a try for next year
Ian
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Yes, I would like to try that method as well, the problem here is finding the correct sand....the only sand for sale here is very compact cement like building sand, or decorative sand which of a consistency which makes it very poor for growing plants (when it gets wet, and then dries, it solidifies to a hard crust!)
it seems that the sand in the log looks a bit like the very porous granitic sand found in Sweden....
It is interesting to hear as well that the fritillarias enjoy the sand bed, as they can be hard here to keep alive, as they resent too high summer temperatures which makes them dry out, and too much water in winter/summer which make them rot...
Pontus
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Ian, as our natural soil is so well drained I just place the sharp sand on top.
I used paving edgers to contain the sand and it is for 30 to 40 cms. deep.
You can see pictures of a similar bed when I first made it in Bulb log 26 of 2007.
http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2007/260607/log.html (http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2007/260607/log.html)
Ian, I am considering a sand bulb-bed too, but I am in doubt where to place it. I have a place in full sun, and another partly shaded. Many of the bulbs that I want to grow there would like full Sun, but my problem is that we often have a very dry period in May and that I fear that this will send them in dormancy too early. My intention is to let Nature do the watering, so maybe the shadier place will be better. Where is your successful sand-bed placed?
Another concern is nutrients, how often do you feed the bulbs?
Poul
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Poul, If I were in your position I would make two - one in sun and one in shade.
Making the one in sun as deep as you can will help preserve moisture for longer. Deep sand holds onto moisture for a long time in our climate.
I have never fed the sand beds - my intention was to feed them if I saw any signs of a shortage of nutrients in the bulbs but they have all thrived. I think that sufficient nutrients must be drawn up from the ground they are built on.
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Ian, do you have Erythronium in sand beds?
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Not in the sand bed I featured in the Bulb Log but I do have plenty that have escaped from pots and plunge baskets that have been growing very well in pure sand for several years.
Erythroniums do not like to get too hot in summer, they can take being dry in dormancy but heat can kill them.
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Thank you. :)